STANDING WITH HUMBOLDT
Islanders, Mooseheads come together at centre ice to pay tribute to crash victims
Regardless of whose jersey they were wearing, for a few minutes last night, everyone inside the Eastlink Centre was on the same team.
Players with the Charlottetown Islanders and Halifax Mooseheads put aside their playoff rivalries during a pre-game ceremony at Eastlink Centre to stand in solidarity with the victims of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Humboldt Broncos bush crash.
And while all those on the ice also paid tribute throughout the game by wearing Broncos decals on their helmets, many in the stands were honouring the team as well.
Noah Frizzell, an Atom A defenceman with the Pownal Predators, was one of several fans who wore the team’s colour green to the game and signed a poster in the arena’s lobby paying respect to the victims.
“I didn’t feel too good (when I heard about the crash), I felt we should support them,” said Frizzell, who also left his hockey stick outside his door at home.
It was a small but fitting form of tribute that many hockey players in P.E.I. and across the country have performed.
“I saw everybody else was doing it and thought I should do, it, too, to support them,” said Frizzell.
A total of 15 members of the Broncos organization died in a bus crash while travelling to a playoff game on Friday.
Fourteen others were injured.
Tributes began pouring in from across the country immediately, with a GoFundMe campaign raising more than $7.8 million for the players and their families.
During Tuesday’s game, some Eastlink Centre staffers were also wearing yellow and green ribbons made by one of the employees.
Hal MacDonald noted how the tragedy has touched many Canadians and those in the hockey world.
“It’s pretty tragic, we’re all affected,” he said, noting how accident hit close to home for those working in the arena.
“We see these guys going and coming in buses all the time. It’s definitely being felt across the whole country.”
Last night’s pre-game ceremony saw the arena’s regular lights dimmed and a green glow cast over the rink for a moment of silence.
Players also held green glow sticks while a short video was played prior to the national anthem showing members of the Broncos.
The Broncos decals were also available to fans for a donation, with all proceeds from the stickers and a second intermission puck toss fundraiser being donated to the Humboldt Broncos.
The Charlottetown Islanders also made a personal donation of $2,500.
“We all grieve together, said Islanders president of operations Craig Foster in a statement Monday.
“The entire hockey world, and every community across Canada, is thinking about and praying for those involved in this tragedy.”