Remembering the lives of the 15 crash victims in Humboldt
NIPAWIN, Sask. — Fifteen people were killed — all male — and 14 others injured in a horrific crash involving the Humboldt Broncos hockey team. Here is some information about those who died:
Tyler Bieber
Bieber worked for Humboldt radio station CHBO and often travelled with the team as its play-by-play radio announcer.
Steven Wilson, a co-worker in Weyburn, Sask., said it was Bieber’s first season announcing for the team. He also covered morning news.
“He definitely had a natural talent,” said Wilson. “He was just passionate about sports.”
Wilson said he filled in a few times for Bieber because he was also busy coaching the Humbolt high school’s basketball and football teams.
Logan Boulet
Logan Boulet, a 21-year-old defenceman from Lethbridge was kept on life supports until late Saturday in order to find appropriate matches for organ donations. It’s believed his organ donations will help save six other lives.
“He was an amazing young man,” former teacher Jared Heidinger, a close friend of the families, wrote on social media. “His mom, dad and sister are amazing too.”
Boulet was one of 10 victims who hailed originally from Alberta.
Mark Cross
The assistant coach was from Strasbourgh, Sask., where he was named most valuable player last year while playing with the Maroons in the Highway Hockey League.
“I can honestly say I didn’t know a more kindhearted, generous, caring and overall nice person,” cousin Graeme Cross said in an online tribute.
“Mark was one of those people that just made you feel safe and brought a special spark when you were in his presence.”
Glen Doerksen
Doerksen is described by his employer, Charlie’s Charters, in a Facebook post as an “outstanding friend, husband, and father.”
“In talking to him, he spoke at length of his time in rinks with his own family and now how much he enjoyed being able to take and watch other teams from minor, to senior to SJHL to their hockey games,” the Kinistino Tigers wrote of Doersken, who drove their team to and from playoff games.
“We will never forget the smile on your face as we left Allan after winning the Championship and got you to give ‘two honks for the Cup.’ Tonight Glen, we give two honks for you. Rest easy Sir.”
Darcy Haugan
The head coach of the Humboldt Broncos was described in online tributes as a “great man” and amazing mentor to young players.
“He will always be a great man in our hearts,” his sister posted on Twitter under the name Debbie Jayne. “The tears just keep coming.”
Other described him as “the coach everyone wants to play for.”
Before becoming a coach, Haugan played junior hockey in the league in the 1990s.
Steven Wilson, a radio play-by-play announcer in Weyburn, Sask., called Haugan “the classiest guy” in the league who always had time to chat.
He said the last time he saw Haugan, the coach was playing video games in his office with one of his two young sons.
“He was very dedicated to his family and at the same time he was a hockey guy.”
Wilson said Haugan’s wife, Christina George-Haugan, worked as the team’s office manager.
Adam Herold
The youngest member of the team, Herold would have turned 17 this week.
He was also a new member of the team — up until a few weeks ago, Herold was captain of the Regina Pat Canadians, manager John Smith said. But, when the Regina team’s season wrapped up, Herold was sent to join the Broncos for their playoff round.
“He was a wonderful young man. Never afraid to help his teammates. Always there for them. Good, typical Saskatchewan farm boy. Always load the bus, unload the bus, never afraid to roll up his sleeves and get work done,” Smith said.
Smith said Herold is survived by his parents and an older sister.
Brody Hinz
The 18-year-old Hinz had recently started tallying the Broncos’ numbers for Humboldt radio station CHBO.
“Brody had recently joined our Golden West family, mentored by Tyler (Bieber) and the Bolt FM team,” Lydon Frieson, president of Golden West Radio, said in a statement posted on the station’s website.
“Tragedy has hit our community and it reaches into every corner of life in Humboldt.”
Another company statement described Hinz as an intern still in high school.
The night of the crash marked a double tragedy for the family. A relative said on Facebook that another family member lost a baby boy in Humboldt hospital shortly after he was born.
Logan Hunter
Hunter’s death was confirmed by his former team, the St. Albert Raiders in his Alberta hometown.
The organization’s president, Kevin Porter, said he heard the news from Hunter’s mother.
“He always had a smile on his face,” said Porter, who described Hunter as a “smart kid and a great hockey player” with a “great sense of humour.”
At age 18, Hunter was one of the youngest members of the team.
Jaxon Joseph
The Edmonton native’s death was confirmed by the Surrey Eagles, his former team in the British Columbia Hockey League.
The Broncos website says Joseph, who was 20 years old, was among the leading scorers in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoffs, playing on a line with Logan Schatz, another player who lost his life in the crash.
In a profile published on the team’s website in January, Schatz paid tribute to Joseph and fellow linemate Conner Lukan.
“I’ve really clicked with Joseph and Lukan. I can’t say enough good things about them,” Schatz said.
Joseph is the son of retired NHL defenceman Chris Joseph, who played in 510 NHL games including one season with the Vancouver Canucks.
Xavier Labelle
Isaac Labelle eulogized his 18year-old brother in an Instagram post Saturday.
“I have no words to describe what I’m feeling. Best friends, teammates, allies, brothers,” he wrote. “We’ve been through so much together. We had a special bond from the day you were born.”
“I’m going to miss you bro. I’ll always remember you and who you were will influence me for the rest of my life.”
A defenceman, Xavier Labelle was a native of Saskatoon.
Jacob Leicht
Leicht, 19, was a Humboldt native playing for his hometown team. The left-winger played his first game with the Broncos organization in 2013 as a bantam AA player. He attended a Catholic elementary school and Humboldt Collegiate Institute for high school.
“My heart is broken. Your laughter was so contagious and you had a smile that lit up any room. I wish we had more time … it seems so unfair,” Cassidy Tolley wrote on Facebook. “You weren’t just family, you were genuinely one of my favourite people and someone I could always count on at all hours of the day and night.”
Conner Lukan
Lukan, 21, was a forward who hails from Slave Lake. He played with the midget St. Albert Raiders and Spruce Grove Saints in the Alberta Junior Hockey League before joining the Broncos last year.
“He was a very unassuming young man… he came and worked hard every day and he had that quiet sense of humour about him,” former Saints coach Jason McKee told The Edmonton Journal. ”On the ice he was one of the most ferocious competitors you’ll find and he was a tremendous teammate… his courage was through the roof. He really worked at playing in the hard areas of the ice. Every team needs guys like that.”
Logan Schatz
The team captain had played for the Broncos for just over four years and had served as team captain for the past two-and-a-half years, his father Kelly Schatz said.
The native of Allan, Sask., played centre and was named the league’s player of the month in February after earning points in eight of nine games. He was 20 years old.
Kelly Schatz said his family is seeking solace in one another.
“It’s hard,” Kelly Schatz said. “I’ve got four other kids and they’re here, which is nice.”
Evan Thomas
Thomas, from Saskatoon, was the “kind of kid any dad would be proud to call his” own, said his father, Scott, former captain of the Tacoma Rockets (which later relocated to Kelowna, three years later).
“He was a self-driven, motivated, retrospective, quiet, confident and very self-assured young man.”
It was the 18-year-old’s first season as a forward with the Humboldt Broncos.
His dad says he was an athlete, playing both hockey and baseball, and a strong student.
“He liked sports, but at times I think he tolerated sports so he could be a teammate,” said Thomas. “He just loved being a teammate. He loved his teammates and I think that was more important to him than the actual sport he was playing.
“He loved those boys. He really loved those boys.”
Stephen Wack
The 21-year-old defenceman was one of the victims of the crash, his cousin Alicia Wack confirmed. He had played with the Broncos for the past two seasons. Wack said her cousin made the best gingerbread houses and “absolutely lived and breathed hockey.”
“Stephen has always been an amazing person, son, big brother, and cousin. He is one of the most adventurous, ambitious, and loving people that I have ever been blessed to know,” she wrote in a Facebook post.