Grizzlies’ coach: ‘This really hits close to home’
All winter, the visiting team buses roll in behind Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre and the Q Centre, caked with the grime of thousands of kilometres of road travel.
Few groups spend more time on bus travel in North America than junior hockey teams. So the Humboldt Broncos tragedy has sent a ripple of shock through all of Canadian junior hockey.
“For us, this really hits close to home,” said Victoria Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon.
The Grizzlies play in the B.C. Hockey League, and the Broncos in the equivalent Junior A level Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The Saskatchewan franchise was at the Q Centre representing the SJHL in the 2009 Royal Bank Cup national championship.
“There are no words to fully express our grief over this terrible tragedy,” said John Grisdale, commissioner of the BCHL.
“It goes without saying that the BCHL and its board of governors are in 100 per cent support of the Humboldt Broncos and the SJHL. We will provide whatever we can to ease their pain and help work through the days to come.”
Among the 15 dead in the crash are Broncos head coach Darcy Haugan and former BCHL Surrey Eagles player Jaxon Joseph.
“We really feel for the families,” Didmon said.
“It’s so incredibly sad. I also remember 1986.”
He was referring to the four members of the Swift Current team in the major-junior Western Hockey League, also named the Broncos, who died in a bus crash 32 years ago.
“A lot has been done, and bus travel in hockey is very safe,” Didmon said.
“Rules regulate driver time and hours. We look to make it as safe as possible in hockey. For us, we are fortunate with the Island winter weather.”
Cameron Hope, general manager of the Victoria Royals of the WHL, described the crash as a “national tragedy.”
“Young athletes in every sport spend a lot of time on the road. This really hits home for us,” Hope said. “The safety of our players and staff is of concern to us at all times.”
WHL teams traverse the winter roads from Victoria to Brandon, Man., and from Prince Albert, Sask., and Prince George to Portland, Oregon, and Kennewick, Washington.
“The hockey community has very close ties, and the WHL will stand by the SJHL and the Humboldt Broncos and their families to provide whatever support they require during this incredibly difficult time,” said Ron Robison, commissioner of the WHL.
A moment of silence, in honour of the victims, was observed Saturday night at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre before the start of the WHL playoff game between the Royals and Tri-City Americans.
An online GoFundMe campaign, with the hopes of raising $2 million in support of those families affected by the Humboldt team crash, has been launched. More than $1 million in donations have already come in.