University team begins quest to keep Cross’s memory alive
Humboldt Strong Remembrance Tour launches this week across Saskatchewan
Former Humboldt Broncos assistant coach Mark Cross will not be forgotten.
The York University Lions are making sure of that.
The Mark Cross Humboldt Strong Remembrance Tour hits Saskatchewan this week with stops in Strasbourg, Lumsden, Humboldt and Saskatoon for exhibition games Thursday, Friday and Sunday against the University of Regina, University of Calgary and University of Saskatchewan.
A travelling party of 38 people — including players, coaches, training staff and York University officials — will fly out of Toronto after practice Wednesday.
“We want to keep Mark’s memory alive,” said York head coach Russ Herrington. “We want to show the people of Saskatchewan where Mark went when he left Strasbourg, what he became a part of and, most importantly, show them the impact that Mark had on our program and our school here at York.”
The tour will also help raise money for the Mark Cross memorial sports fund that has been started in his hometown of Strasbourg.
Cross, who was among the 16 people killed as a result of the April 6 crash involving the Broncos team bus, played five seasons at York, where he graduated with a degree in kinesiology and health science.
He leaves a lasting legacy both on and off the ice.
Herrington credits Cross for a lot of things, including an Ontario University Athletics men’s hockey title in 2017. Cross wasn’t even playing.
“We have had the success we have had in the past three-plus years that I have been here as a direct result of Mark Cross,” Herrington said.
“We won a OUA championship the year after Mark graduated, but he was the main reason we won it and he didn’t even play on our team that year. His impact on changing the culture and kind of not only holding people to a higher standard, but pulling them up to that standard remains to this day.”
Cross served as alternate captain for three seasons and was named MVP for his final season. Upon graduation, Cross coached midget hockey in Strasbourg before being hired as an assistant coach by the Broncos for the 2017-18 season.
“Individually, to me, I’ve been coaching 20-plus years and he ranks right up there as the most impactful player that I’ve ever had in terms of sitting in a room as a staff and looking up to somebody in the dressing room, just his importance, the way he attacks life, the way he treated individuals,” said Herrington.
“It gave us great hope that the next generation are great people and are going to take care of the world and the messes that we’re maybe handing over to them.
“In terms of just a pure individual, he was a great example of how to live your life.”
The tour is being held in memory of Cross and as a tribute to all those affected by the crash. The Lions will also participate in a number of school visits, hockey clinics and community events.
“We knew Mark was proud of his hometown and his home province and he was always looking for ways to give back to those communities,” said Herrington.
With Cross having a strong connection to York University, the Lions had been actively recruiting several Broncos for the upcoming season, including captain Logan Schatz and Conner Lukan, who were both killed in the crash. In May, the Lions announced the commitment of Saskatoon forward Kaleb Dahlgren, one of the surviving Broncos players.
Dahlgren will participate in pregame warm-ups this weekend, but won’t play. He has not yet been cleared for full contact.
The Lions roster includes Saskatoon products Ben Verrall, Mack Shields and Dexter Bricker along with former Whlers Alex Mowbray and Scott Feser.
Herrington thought of organizing the tour while sitting at Cross’s memorial in Strasbourg.
“Looking around and seeing that arena full of people, the inspiration kind of struck at that point,” said Herrington, adding the team had some other things in place, including a team award to honour Cross, a memorial fund and a memorial game in Toronto.
“I sat there looking around, thinking, ‘We need to bring our guys here so they can see why Mark was the way he was,’ and I wanted the people from Strasbourg to see, who never got a chance to see Mark in a York uniform, where it was he played.”