MOMENTS OF SILENCE AROUND NHL
The hockey world responded to the Humboldt bus crash on multiple fronts Saturday. Postmedia News journalists captured how the moments of silence and other shows of support were handled around the league:
LANCE HORNBY Air Canada Centre
Canadiens at Maple Leafs: The Broncos logo was displayed alongside the Maple Leafs’ on the video backdrop during the media availability in the room. Two spotlit Humboldt crests appeared in the darkened arena before a moment of silence was observed. Players had the Broncos logo on their helmets. In-house announcer Mike Ross called the incident “unthinkable.” The two old rivals, lined up across the blue-lines, announced plans for a joint donation to help the team and town recover and urged fans to donate to the GoFundMe campaign.
BRUCE GARRIOCH TD Garden
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 sort of ties to the junior team that Canadian cities had.
WES GILBERTSON Scotiabank Saddledome
Golden Knights at Flames: Outside the Saddledome, the landmark Calgary Tower was illuminated in green and yellow, the team colours of the Humboldt Broncos. Inside the arena, a pregame ceremony was punctuated by an impromptu chant from the crowd: “Bron-cos! Bron-cos!” Nine-year-old Nolan McKinnon carried Saskatchewan’s provincial flag as he led the Flames onto the ice. Members of both squads and the officials gathered in a circle around centre ice.
TED WYMAN Bell MTS Centre
Blackhawks at Jets: Jets and Blackhawks players wore the word Broncos on their backs in place of individual name plates to honour the 15 people who lost their lives. As they joined 15,000plus fans in a moment of silence, a single fan in a Broncos jersey was displayed on the scoreboard screen. Another fan held up a sign that read “Humboldt Strong.” The Jets, Blackhawks and NHL each contributed $25,000 to the 50-50 pot, the proceeds of which were to be donated to the Broncos.
ROB TYCHKOWSKI Rogers Place
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 pre-game introductions. The starting lineups for each team, along with the referees and linesmen, formed a ring at centre ice while a moment of silence was observed. During the national anthem, a huge round of applause broke out as cameras zeroed in on a lone fan in the crowd wearing a Broncos sweater.