Sask. Junior Hockey Team Bus Involved in Fatal Collision

cornflake · Apr 6, 2018

The Humboldt Broncos of the SJHL were on their way to a playoff game when their team bus was t-boned by a semi. Multiple fatalities and serious injuries, though no numbers. The players are teenagers.

These are small towns in Canada, where hockey is a huge part of life. Obviously it'd be tragic regardless, but ... it's just terrible.

frimble3 · Apr 7, 2018

Population of Humboldt is under 6000 people. I was raised in a town that size. I'll bet that team is half the high-school boys. And everyone in town will know at least one of them, if they aren't actually related. As you say, a terrible thing.

cornflake · Apr 7, 2018

It's just horrific -- RCMP saying 14 dead, 14 injured from the bus (that's the entirety of the bus, including players, coaches, driver), three of the injured in critical condition.

For those neither Canadian nor into hockey, a similar incident involving a jr team from Swift Current some 30 years ago that killed four players is still remembered. As frimble says the impact of something like this is going to be so overwhelming for the town, the area, the league...

mccardey · Apr 7, 2018

How horribly sad.

Roxxsmom · Apr 7, 2018

This is terrible. I can only imagine how bad their families and friends must feel.

cornflake · Apr 7, 2018

frimble3 said:
Population of Humboldt is under 6000 people. I was raised in a town that size. I'll bet that team is half the high-school boys. And everyone in town will know at least one of them, if they aren't actually related. As you say, a terrible thing.

It's not a house team; it's a SJHL team. The kids are likely from all over the place.

shakeysix · Apr 7, 2018

so sad. just seeing the team picture is heart breaking, all cocky smiles and bright eyes. -- s6

frimble3 · Apr 7, 2018

cornflake said:
It's not a house team; it's a SJHL team. The kids are likely from all over the place.

Some from as far away as Edmonton, Alberta, apparently. Parents still trying to contact their sons.

Jan74 · Apr 7, 2018

It's so sad

blacbird · Apr 7, 2018

Nothing to be said about this tragedy, other than expression of condolence. And not enough words to express that adequately.

caw

cornflake · Apr 7, 2018

Now 15 dead. -- CBC article with details about some of the players.

Here's a NYT piece discussing a bit about the impact of the tragedy.

Only four of the team’s 24 players are from Humboldt. The rest moved there from towns across Saskatchewan and neighboring provinces, and live with local families.

“They become part of the family,” said Mr. Eaton, who took many into his own home over 10 years, growing so close he has been invited to weddings....

The town and the team have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of grief and support they’ve received since the accident. Hotels offered family members of the victims free accommodation. A Go Fund Me webpage for the team, raised more than $1.5 million in 21 hours.

“It certainly affects all the Prairie Provinces,” said Kevin Garinger, the team’s president and the local director of education. “It’s unbelievable how widespread this is and it’s well beyond Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba.”

Also,

Canada -- Westjet has moved stuff around to have larger planes available for runs to Sask, and is offering assistance to family members trying to get to Humboldt.

Since many of our flights to Saskatoon this weekend are full due to Spring Break, we have swapped a larger aircraft in to operate WestJet flight WS452 from Calgary to Saskatoon tonight at 8:00 p.m. and we will continue to evaluate our flights in the coming days to ensure we do everything we can to help make seats available to Saskatoon.

For anyone needing to get to Saskatoon, please call us ... and indicate that you are flying due to the incident in Humboldt and one of our WestJetters will assist you.

If you know of anyone in the Broncos hockey family who needs assistance getting to Saskatoon, please share this with them so they are aware

Xelebes · Apr 12, 2018

Death toll now stands at 16.

cornflake · Apr 12, 2018

The Go Fund Me set up is closing in on $10 million.

cbenoi1 · Apr 12, 2018

The symbol is a hockey stick on the porch. They are everywhere across Canada...

https://globalnews.ca/news/4135286/...umboldt-tragedy-by-putting-out-hockey-sticks/

montrealers-honour-victims-of-humboldt-tragedy-by-putting-out-hockey-sticks

-cb

MaeZe · Apr 12, 2018

Jason · Apr 12, 2018

Oh Dear God...literally heart-wrenching

cornflake · Apr 12, 2018

The 16th fatality, just btw, was Dayna Brons, a trainer with the team, and the only woman on the bus.

MaeZe · Apr 13, 2018

There was an interview on NPR yesterday, one young man with a severed spinal cord -> paraplegic. He was upbeat though I imagine the full weight of his grief has yet to sink in. But he's already looking forward to Ice Sledge Hockey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LELQQYOwF_s

Still incredibly sad.

Sask. Junior Hockey Team Bus Involved in Fatal Collision

cornflake

practical experience, FTW

frimble3

Heckuva good sport

cornflake

practical experience, FTW

mccardey

Roxxsmom

Beastly Fido

cornflake

practical experience, FTW

shakeysix

blue eyed floozy

frimble3

Heckuva good sport

Jan74

blacbird

cornflake

practical experience, FTW

Xelebes

Delerium ex Ennui

cornflake

practical experience, FTW

cbenoi1

MaeZe

Jason

Ideas bounce around in my head

cornflake

practical experience, FTW

MaeZe