Goalie worked to raise donation awareness, wins honorary award
Matt Welsh received an award Wednesday morning at his Halifax home — in a bag, at the end of an extended goalie stick, as he stood in the doorway.
The bag, necessary because of social distancing during the pandemic, contained the Dayna Brons Honorary Award. Welsh, who has played more minutes than any other goalie in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, earned the honour through his work to raise blood-donation awareness this past year.
The community-minded goalie recently wrapped up his fifth and final season with the Charlottetown Islanders, and he has impressed Carol Brons, whose daughter, Dayna, was the Humboldt Broncos’ athletic therapist. Dayna died from injuries sustained in the team’s 2018 bus crash that killed 16 people.
“People have a stereotypical idea of a hockey player as being just ... hockey,” Carol said Wednesday. “All 29 people on the bus were more than just hockey-oriented. There was a lot of musically-talented people, and people who were very community-oriented. They all had different talents. It wasn’t just the hockey, right? It’s good to know somebody such as Matt ... he obviously cares about more than hockey.”
The award is given through Hockey Gives Blood, an organization struck up after the crash. It goes to someone in the hockey community who “exhibits outstanding dedication towards patients who rely on blood and stem cell products in Canada.”
Welsh, like so many others, was shaken from afar when the Broncos’ bus crashed. When he was asked about serving as a Hockey Gives Blood ambassador this past season, he was quick to say yes. He donated blood for the first time — twice, in fact — and prompted other teammates to do it, as well.
He raised awareness through his social media channels, and helped with a contest between clinics in Moncton, Saint John and Charlottetown. Each has a QMJHL hockey team, and they pushed to see who could get closest to their blood-donation goal for the month of January.
Welsh has read up on Dayna’s story, and he had a video chat with Carol and Lyle Brons last week. He learned more about Dayna, and they learned more about him.
“I speak for all junior hockey players when I say this: I don’t think anyone’s going to forget the day when the Humboldt Broncos’ bus crashed,” Welsh said. “I still remember exactly what I was doing that day, and the whole situation. It puts things into perspective for you, about how quick things can change. It hit close to home, with spending so much time on a bus. It’s gut-wrenching to hear and to think about.”
Carol Brons said it’s a meaningful thing for her family, seeing Dayna’s name and image on that award. Dayna was a frequent blood donor, and received transfusions after the crash before dying five days later.
“Dayna never did the things she did to get the recognition,” Carol said. “But it is nice that she’s getting some recognition for the fact she was a blood donor, and donated her time, and her hair. She was very community-minded, for the greater good.”
The award has now been given twice, both times to a goalie. Mississauga Steelheads netminder Jacob Ingham received the honour last year.
“To help carry out Dayna’s legacy ... it’s an honour,” Welsh said. “She had a lot of character. A lot of integrity and pride. And to be associated with this award is really an honour.”