Late player’s family were minutes behind bus on way to game
‘We’re devastated and I can’t even put it into words,’ defenceman’s mother says
Dr. Paul Labelle, his wife and daughter were following the Humboldt Broncos team bus on the latest leg of its playoff journey when their lives changed forever.
Labelle, a Saskatoon emergency room physician, said Saturday night he came upon the crash site Friday where the bus and a semi had collided. He instinctively tried to rush to the scene to help.
The police, who were already on scene, refused to let him assist. Labelle said that was the right decision, given his personal involvement.
“I went to the scene, but they turned me away,” he said in an interview.
Labelle, his wife, Tanya, and his nine-year-old daughter, Viviana, continued on to Nipawin where the Broncos were scheduled to play a playoff game Friday night.
Eventually, the worst news arrived. Their 18-year-old son, Xavier, a Broncos defenceman, was among the 15 people killed in the crash.
“We’re numb right now,” Paul said.
“We’re devastated and I can’t even put it into words,” Tanya added.
Xavier is being remembered as a young man with many talents. In addition to hockey, Xavier played the piano and was bilingual. He also excelled at track and field.
“He’s an absolutely amazing young man who loved his family dearly,” Paul said.
For Isaac Labelle, he lost his little brother and his best friend. He also counts Xavier as one of the best hockey players he’s ever played with.
Isaac, a goalie, said he and his 18-year-old brother played together frequently.
“He was a defensive D-man,” Isaac, 20, said in an interview Saturday night. “He was someone any goalie would love to have on the team.”
Xavier was in his second year playing for the Broncos.
Paul and Tanya expressed gratitude to the Nipawin Hawks and Broncos organizations for the support they have received. The family is also thankful for the sympathy being expressed across the country.
“We’re very grateful,” Tanya said. Xavier, a six-foot-two defenceman, also played 83 games for the Saskatoon Contacts in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League over two seasons.
Jim McIntyre, governor of the Saskatoon Contacts, recalled Labelle as a “good kid” with a lot of promise.
“He worked hard,” McIntyre said in a phone interview Saturday. “He was a good student.”
Labelle, who was born in Saskatoon, was invited to the Saskatoon Blades training camp in 2014 and 2016 and played with the Contacts in the Telus Cup in 2016.
“He had everything going for him,” Isaac said. “Everybody liked him. I’ve never heard any bad comment about him ever. He could put a smile on anybody’s face.”
Tanya said Xavier was determined to succeed at whatever he did. Xavier’s extended family, including cousins, turned up to cheer on his brother and him at their hockey games, Paul said.
Labelle was one of eight Broncos players invited to take part in the SJHL/MJHL Showcase in Regina in January.
Labelle scored one goal and added an assist in nine SJHL playoff games this season. In 41 regular season games, he had three goals and nine points and racked up 14 penalty minutes.
In 57 games last season for the Broncos, Labelle scored one goal, added 10 assists and had 59 penalty minutes.