Crash brings up painful memories in Swift Current
The horrific bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos has affected the lives of many throughout the tightknit hockey community across the prairies.
Fifteen people are confirmed to have died in the accident involving the team’s bus as they travelled to Nipawin for a playoff game. Friday’s tragedy was all too familiar for Swift Current’s Tim Tisdale, who survived the 1986 bus crash that killed his Swift Current Bronco teammates Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger, Chris Mantyka, and Brent Ruff.
“It was shock. You just don’t think something like that is going to happen. When you’ve been through it, believe me you don’t wish that on anybody,” said Tisdale one day after the crash.
Tisdale said it was an extremely personal day as the 1986 bus crash was brought back to the forefront.
“It brought back a lot of memories, talking to old teammates today, sharing texts. Now it seems like it was yesterday. We really know what those players are going through and what the families are going through. They have got a long road ahead of them.”
The bus crash survivor had some thoughtful advice for those affected by the Humboldt Broncos’ tragedy.
“You are going to be sad. You are going to be angry some days for no reason. You are going to feel guilt at some point. You just have to go through that. The biggest thing for me I would say is be around people, talk. The worst thing I found was being on my own. That’s when it was really the most difficult,” said Tisdale.
One of the major differences between the two accidents 31 years apart was the way that news of the tragedy and the outpouring of support has spread across North America.
“The good thing is they have learned things from our experience,” he said. “They have counsellors up there, they have people that they can talk to. They are way more prepared for an incident like this, not that that makes it any better.”