A heroic final play
Bronco from Lethbridge gives ‘gift of life’ to save six others through organ donation
The final wish of a Humboldt Broncos hockey player from Lethbridge will help six people live on through the donation of his organs.
Logan Boulet, 21, had been on life-support to allow for the organ donation process to take place, as a surgical team from the University of Alberta hospital made its way to Saskatoon.
Late Saturday, a friend of the Boulet family posted on social media that the organ transplant procedures were scheduled to begin early Sunday morning, as matches were made for all vital organs, including a patient that would receive the young hockey player’s heart and lungs.
“All counted, six people will receive the gift of life from Logan,” wrote Neil Langevin.
Boulet signed an organ donor card upon turning 21, just weeks ago. He had made it known to his family that this was his wish, according to Langevin.
“These actions alone give voice to the selfless and benevolent nature Logan possessed in life for others,” Langevin stated. “He is a great hero and one of the nicest people you would have been lucky enough to meet.”
Former Broncos captain Corey Dambrauskas was 19 when he first met Boulet, who cracked the roster as a rookie defenceman during the 2015-16 season.
Dambrauskas, who stepped away after that season due to nagging injury problems, recalled spending a lot of time with Boulet that year. Also a defenceman, he said he could relate to Boulet and was impressed by his work ethic.
“Other than being a goalie in the SJHL, that’s the hardest position to play as a rookie. It’s hard to get ice, everything about it,” Dambrauskas said. “So him actually getting into the lineup, he was a big impact. He was a nice guy, everybody loved him. He was just one of those guys that you wanted to get to know, you wanted to see what he was like. He never said anything mean, he was always nice, so genuine. He was awesome.”
Boulet is one of 15 people who died after a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team collided with a semi-trailer unit on Friday.
The death toll includes 10 players, the bus driver, two coaches, a volunteer statistician and a broadcaster. The collision happened around 5 p.m. Friday as they were driving to play the Nipawin Hawks.
The bus was carrying 29 people, of which 14 were injured, including some in critical condition. The driver of the semi-trailer was not injured.
From team scavenger hunts to hanging out after practice, Dambrauskas described the Broncos as tight-knit group, one in which Boulet became a beloved member.
“He was always down and wanted to hang out,” said Dambrauskas, now 22. “In Humboldt there’s not much to do, you’re either hanging out with the boys or at the billet house.”
Boulet passed the time by doing what he loved most: playing hockey.
“He was always at the rink,” said Dambrauskas. “Me and him actually worked out together all the time. He was always so dedicated, he always put in the extra effort, he was good with the little fans, everything. He was a very nice kid, a very genuine kid.”
But it was Boulet’s maturity which really stood out to the former captain. It’s why he wasn’t surprised when he found out that
These actions alone give voice to the selfless and benevolent nature Logan possessed in life for others. He is a great hero.
Boulet signed up to be an organ donor.
“You would never know he was 21, you would think he was 25. He was so mature,” said Dambrauskas.
“What kid at 21 goes and signs that on his own, you know? Who thinks about that? Kids aren’t thinking about that nowadays, they ’re thinking about other stuff. Him signing that, it shows what type of character he is right there. He was for the boys, always.”
About 4,600 people across Canada are on a waiting list for a lifesaving organ transplant, according to Joyce Van Deurzen, executive director of the Kidney Foundation of Canada’s Saskatchewan and southern Alberta branches.
“There’s no doubt that the need is far greater than the number of organs available for transplant so every donor, every organ is so precious,” Van Deurzen said. “This young man has saved the lives of many people so hopefully his family can take some measure of comfort in that. They really are granting his last wish by deciding to donate his organs in agreement with his wishes.”