TRURO, N.S. - The tight-knit junior hockey community across Canada is mourning after a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos hockey team collided with a semi-truck in Saskatchewan Friday, killing 15 people.
Teams, Hockey organizations, fans and even government leaders have shared their feelings and condolences for those affected in the aftermath of the incident, which has left the junior hockey community sadden and shook.
“There’s a lot of bus rides every year in a lot of leagues,” said Shawn Evans, head coach of the Truro Junior A Bearcats.
“But I don’t know why this happened on that particular day, that particular bus ride.”
The Broncos were heading to Nipawin for a playoff game Friday evening around 5 p.m., when their bus collided with the truck at a highway intersection.
Many games being held on Saturday took a moment to pay respect to those lost in the incident with a moment of silence, including the Halifax Moosehead’s playoff game against the Charlottetown Islanders in Halifax and the Saturday rounds of the Day of Champions series in Truro.
Although the Broncos and the Bearcats didn’t play in the same league, the junior hockey community is known for keep an eye on each other.
“They are very well known across Canada for the program they run and the success they’ve had,” said Evans on the Broncos.
“I wasn’t familiar with anyone in particular with that group, but everyone follows everyone else around in different leagues to see how teams are doing throughout the year. We didn’t know them personally, but they were a team we watched from afar.”
The MHL also released a statement on their website (http://site1907.goalline.ca/news.php?news_id=1650626) about the crash, sending its condolences to the family and friends affected by the accident.
“As proud members of the CJHL, our league stands with our hockey family in the SJHL and with the Broncos organization during this exceptionally difficult time,” it reads.
When asked if he had ever had any close calls or incidents while travelling with the Bearcats, Evans said incidents like this happen, and are usually out of the team’s control.
“I want to tell you no, but you know, I’ve been on a lot of bus rides for a lot of years,” he said.
“People say, you’re just along for the ride, and unfortunately that is really how it is. The bus driver is always a good guy, but he’s in control and you’re just doing what you’re doing while you travel.”
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