Survivor back on the ice weeks after bus crash
Feisty forward aims to play for Broncos teammates who won’t be coming back
SASKATOON It’s mid-afternoon in Saskatoon and the parking lot outside the rink sits almost empty.
Inside, Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor Brayden Camrud spills a milk carton full of pucks onto the Rod Hamm Arena ice.
Camrud proceeds to shoot pucks, stickhandle and dangle like somebody who has played the past two seasons in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, and not like someone who survived a horrific bus crash that left 16 of his teammates, coaches and colleagues dead.
Camrud remains a solitary figure on the ice.
When the Broncos hit the ice next fall, Camrud may be the only Broncos bus crash survivor physically ready to resume playing for the team. Others are either too old or, in many cases, too injured. It’s clear that Camrud is on the comeback trail. He represents both the past and the future for the Humboldt Broncos. He wants to lead the way into next season.
“I want to be the guy to represent everybody who isn’t here anymore,” says Camrud, a feisty five-foot-nine, 181-pound forward from Saskatoon. “Everything is for them. If I can be that person for them, to the best of my ability, I want to and I’m going to do it the best that I can for the organization, for the city of Humboldt and, even if I’m not, I’m still going to be a leader in some sort of way for everybody.”
Compared with most of his teammates, Camrud sustained relatively minor injuries in the April 6 bus crash that occurred at an intersection between Tisdale and Nipawin. The team was only 15-20 minutes away from Nipawin, where the Broncos were to battle the Nipawin Hawks in an SJHL playoff game, when the bus was struck by a semi-trailer unit.
Those who survived were left with both physical and emotional scars.
Camrud soldiers on.
He says he’s doing “all right.” He continues with physiotherapy, chiropractic and massage treatment for his shoulder and neck. He did not suffer any fractures or broken bones, but he did endure a concussion.
“I’m just trying to get as much recovery as I can just because I want to get back to hockey as quickly as possible,” said Camrud, who was fifth in scoring for the Broncos last season with 16 goals and 26 assists for 42 points in 57 games before adding four goals and four assists in nine playoff games.
“I’m anxious to get back. Mentally, I‘m doing OK. I’ll have some days where I’m just sad and I’m sitting there, just thinking about them (those who died). Other than that, it’s good because I’m with my parents all the time and my family. They are there for me if I need them. I’m always keeping busy so I’m not constantly thinking about it, but it’s going all right.”
MEMORIES OF THE CRASH
On April 6, in the moments after the bus crash, Camrud was able to pick himself up and survey the unimaginable situation surrounding him.
“I woke up kind of just dazed,” he recalls.
“I kind of realized what happened and I’m kind of trying to take it all in, like, ‘did this really happen?’
“I got up after it, got my balance and I looked over and I saw a teammate. I could tell he wasn’t here with us anymore. I’m still trying to kind of figure out what’s going on and I see another teammate and he’s screaming. He’s in pain and I can’t even comprehend what’s happening because it was just so unbelievable.
“Finally, after everything had kind of happened, I was trying to calm him down and stuff. At one point, I do remember somebody tossing a blanket on me because I was freezing and shaking. When help did arrive, I was pulled out from underneath my arms and put in an ambulance with another teammate and we were grabbing each other, and holding each other tight.”
He was hospitalized for a few days, but he was one of the first players to be released after graduating 20-year-old players Matthieu Gomeric and Nick Shumlanski, both of whom were able to attend the vigil in Humboldt on April 8.
Camrud says the first couple of days following the accident, and the first couple of weeks, were the hardest.
Camrud went to 13 of the 16 funerals.
BACK ON THE ICE
Camrud has been on the ice just a few times since the bus crash, once with his former Saskatoon Midget AAA Blazers team and another time helping out a young Huskie Prospects team. Monday’s skate was his third.
He got cleared for light activity last Thursday.
“There hasn’t been anything too ridiculous,” he says.
“The first time (skating) was a little weird. It felt kind of empty, like I was the only one out there as a Bronco. I’m sure that will change once it gets closer to the season.”