Victims of the crash
HUMBOLDT, Sask. – Fifteen people were killed and 14 others injured in a horrific crash involving the Humboldt Broncos hockey team. Here is the information available on 13 of those who lost their lives in the crash.
TYLER BIEBER:
Bieber worked for Humboldt radio station CHBO and often travelled with the team as its play-by-play radio announcer.
Steven Wilson, a co-worker in Weyburn, Sask., said it was Bieber’s first season announcing for the team. He also covered morning news.
MARK CROSS:
The assistant coach was from Strasbourgh, Sask., where he was named most valuable player last year while playing with the Maroons in the Highway Hockey League.
“I can honestly say I didn’t know a more kind-hearted, generous, caring and overall nice person,” cousin Graeme Cross said in an online tribute.
GLEN DOERKSEN:
Doerksen is described by his employer, Charlie’s Charters, in a Facebook post as an “outstanding friend, husband, and father.”
DARCY HAUGAN:
The head coach of the Humboldt Broncos was described in online tributes as a “great man” and amazing mentor to young players. “He will always be a great man in our hearts,” his sister posted on Twitter under the name Debbie Jayne. “The tears just keep coming.”
ADAM HEROLD:
The youngest member of the team, Herold would have turned 17 this week. He was also a new member of the team – up until a few weeks ago, Herold was captain of the Regina Pat Canadians.
BRODY HINZ:
The 18-year-old Hinz had recently started tallying the Broncos’ numbers for Humboldt radio station CHBO.
LOGAN HUNTER:
Hunter’s death was confirmed by his former team, the St. Albert Raiders in his Alberta hometown. The organization’s president, Kevin Porter, said he heard the news from Hunter’s mother.
“He always had a smile on his face,” said Porter, who described Hunter as a “smart kid and a great hockey player” with a “great sense of humour.”
CONNER LUKAN:
Conner Lukan, 21, of Slave Lake played with the midget St. Albert Raiders and Spruce Grove Saints in the Alberta Junior Hockey League before joining the Broncos last year.
JAXON JOSEPH:
The Edmonton native’s death was confirmed by the Surrey Eagles, his former team in the British Columbia Hockey League. The Broncos website says Joseph, who was 20 years old, was among the leading scorers in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoffs.
XAVIER LABELLE:
Isaac Labelle eulogized his 18-yearold brother in an Instagram post Saturday.
“I have no words to describe what I’m feeling. Best friends, teammates, allies, brothers,” he wrote. “We’ve been through so much together. We had a special bond from the day you were born.”
LOGAN SCHATZ:
The team captain had played for the Broncos for just over four years and was team captain, his father Kelly Schatz said. The native of Allan, Sask., played centre and was named the league’s player of the month in February after earning points in eight of nine games.
EVAN THOMAS:
Thomas, from Saskatoon, was the “kind of kid any dad would be proud to call his” own, said his father, Scott.
“He was a self-driven, motivated, retrospective, quiet, confident and very self-assured young man.”
STEPHEN WACK:
The 21-year-old defenceman was one of the victims of the crash, his cousin Alicia Wack confirmed. He had played with the Broncos for two seasons. Wack said her cousin made the best gingerbread houses and “absolutely lived and breathed hockey.”