Tri-County residents support Humboldt Broncos

Locals are putting their hockey sticks out as part of an online trend

Rosanna Manzer supporting the hashtag #PutYourSticksOut in support of the Humboldt Broncos. Kyle Bradley put hockey sticks outside of his home to support the Humboldt Broncos bus crash.

Rosanna Manzer of Digby County is a hockey mom of four kids and her husband is a hockey coach.

With a strong love for the game, when they saw the online hashtag #PutYourSticksOut in support of the Humboldt Broncos, they did exactly that.

“Any tragedy like this hits close to home for everyone and is so terribly heartbreaking,” she said.

Nationwide and throughout other countries people are putting their hockey sticks on front porches to show support for the Humboldt Broncos. On April 6, the Broncos were on their way to a hockey playoff game in Nipawin, Saskatchewan when a tractor trailer collided with the bus.

To pay tribute to the 16 who died and the 13 who were injured, an online trend surfaced called #PutYourSticksOut.

“This story has consumed my thoughts since hearing about it,” Manzer said.

Sports have a way of bringing people together.

“We are just heartbroken for these families. We understand how when you’re a hockey family, all the kids become each other’s,” said Manzer. “Hockey parents and coaches all take each other’s kids under their wings and love them and look out for them like their own.”

Even though the accident happened across the country, people here want to show support.

“I hope they find just a small amount of comfort knowing the nation is supporting them and here for them,” said Manzer.

It’s not just hockey families supporting the online trend.

Kyle Bradley saw the trend online and wanted to be a part of it.

“It’s something I saw start This is a display outside Talitha Nickerson’s house in Woods Harbour. Both daughters in the household play for the Shelburne Flames. quickly on Facebook and seemed a simple meaningful way to join others across our country to show some kind of support for such a sorrowful thing that happened,” he said.

Bradley is not a hockey parent but wants to show his support to those affected by the accident.

A GoFundMe page was created in support of those affected by the accident and as of the mor- ning of April 15 it had reached $11.47 million. The goal was $4 million.

“To see the funds raised by complete strangers who genuinely hurt for these families is incredible,” Bradley said.

See a sampling of support from the region on Page C6.