MOMENTS OF SILENCE IN THE NHL
CANADIENS AT MAPLE LEAFS: The Broncos logo was displayed alongside the Leafs’ on the video backdrop during media availability in the room, two spotlit Humboldt crests appeared in the darkened arena before a moment of silence was observed. In-house announcer Mike Ross spoke of the “unthinkable” tragedy. The two old rivals, lined up across the bluelines, announced plans for a joint donation to help the team and town recover and urged fans to donate to the Go Fund Me campaign.
LANCE HORNBY at the Air Canada Centre
SENATORS AT BRUINS: Before the puck dropped at the TD Garden on Saturday night, the Ottawa Senators, playing their final game of the season, and Boston Bruins observed a moment of silence for the Broncos. “We pause to offer thoughts to the Humboldt Broncos community and all of those affected by last night’s tragedy,” the Bruins stated in a post on Twitter. It was a thoughtful gesture coming from a New England community that did not have the ties to the junior team the other Canadian cities had.
BRUCE GARRIOCH at the TD Garden
GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT FLAMES: Outside, the landmark Calgary Tower was illuminated in green and yellow, the team colours of the Humboldt Broncos. Inside the Scotiabank Saddledome, a touching pregame ceremony was punctuated by an impromptu chant from the crowd: ‘Broncos, Broncos!’ Nineyear-old Nolan McKinnon carried Saskatchewan’s provincial flag as the minor-hockey skater led the Flames on to the ice. Members of both squads, plus the officials, gathered in a circle around centre-ice.
WES GILBERTSON at the Saddledome
BLACKHAWKS AT JETS: There were 40 players gathered at centre ice, rivals at any other time but united in grief on this night. The members of the Jets and Blackhawks wore the word ‘Broncos’ on their backs in place of individual name plates to honour the 15 souls from Humboldt who lost their lives. As they joined 15,000-plus fans in a moment of silence, a single fan in a Broncos jersey showed the team’s crest on scoreboard screen. Another fan solemnly held up a sign that read “Humboldt Strong.”
TED WYMAN at the Bell MTS Centre
CANUCKS AT OILERS: The Oilers changed the colours on their scoreboard to Humboldt Green and Yellow, and replaced “Oilers” with “Broncos” on the logo. They tinted the ice in green and yellow before the pregame introductions. The starting lineups for each team, along with the referees and linesmen, then formed a ring at centre ice while Rodgers Place observed a moment of silence. During the national anthem, a huge round of a applause broke out as cameras zeroed in on a lone fan in the crowd wearing a Broncos sweater.
ROB TYCHKOWSKI at Rogers Place