Humboldt Broncos, enduring the worst of a tragedy
Sometimes human hearts are made to endure what human bodies cannot. In Humboldt, Sask., and in other Prairie communities connected with the Humboldt Broncos junior league hockey team, many hearts are heaving with that shattering reality today. They are engulfed in the hardest of all things to endure.
They struggle as families and friends with the tragic loss of 10 young Broncos players, their coach and assistant coach, their bus driver and two team broadcasters in a devastating highway collision on Friday.
This shocking loss has struck at hearts across Canada and around the world. For parents everywhere, the death of a child, and the loss of that child’s hopes and dreams, is the worst fate imaginable.
It is a loss that never ends. To see it fall on so many is a hurt that screams in our consciousness.
The circumstances of this tragedy strike another universal chord in Canada. Young hockey players on a trip to a playoff game is the stuff of our everyday lives.
Parents in every community entrust their children to road trips that are a part of realizing their youthful dreams to excel in a sport or skill, to experience the special bonds of a team, to compete with the young dreamers of another place.
Canada’s hockey achievements, in the NHL, Olympics and world competitions are steeped in this culture.
They are rooted in energetic kids, excited families and giving mentors sharing the thrill of games played in community rinks, strung out like a constellation, separated by long trips in all kinds of conditions and weather.
We know the risks of this travel. And yet we know that what we want for our children, fulfilment of youth’s promise, so often comes with honing their abilities in the wider world. We support their dreams, see them off, hope for their success, their growth, their safety, and for mercy.
On Friday, the Broncos’ bus collided with a tractor-trailor at a remote intersection. Fifteen of the 29 team members died and others were seriously injured. The cause has not been determined, though six people died in a crash at this intersection in 1997 and a local councillor says new safety measures are needed. If a safer design is possible, Friday’s tragedy tells us how vital it is to find and implement it. Canadians have rushed to support the bereaved families and communities, as we should. These fine young players and mentors are a loss to our country.
Let us remember and honour each of them by name: CHBO announcer Tyler Bieber, defenceman Logan Boulet, assistant coach Mark Cross, driver Glen Doerksen, coach Darcy Haugan, defenceman Adam Herold, CHBO statistics keeper Brody Hinz, forward Logan Hunter, forward Jacob Leicht, forward Conner Lukan, forward Jaxon Joseph, goalie Parker Tobin, captain and centreman Logan Schatz, forward Evan Thomas and defenceman Stephen Wack.