Hockey world left reeling by fatal bus crash
Tributes come pouring in
The Saskatchewan, Canada, bus crash that killed 15 young players, coaches and others has sent shock waves through the world of youth hockey all the way to New England.
“It was a horrible tragedy,” said Andrew Trimble, head coach of the Laconia, N.H.-based New England Wolves. “This tragedy has definitely been on our radar for sure and we’ve been talking about putting a benefit game for the families in the 2018-2019 season. The hockey world is a strong community and life during this time for these families is difficult so we like to do what we can to make this a little bit easier for people.”
Trimble defended the practice of busing players over long distances. “The last tragedy like this was in the late 1980s, that happened in west Canada, too. It’s a terrible tragedy, but bus really is the safest travel.
“When you’re traveling in the winter months we don’t want our players to take cars or school buses, we’d rather they take a coach bus which is good and well-regulated. Right now it’s the safest form of transportation.”
In Saskatchewan, family members and friends of the 15 junior hockey players, coaches, an announcer and the driver killed when a tractor-trailer slammed into their chartered bus en route to a critical game Friday were reeling at their losses as they posted and voiced tributes to them yesterday.
The dead include the son of a former NHL player, the team’s captain, head and assistant coaches, and a radio announcer. Police have not yet confirmed their names, but family members and others have identified some of the victims.
Darcy Haugan, the team’s head coach, had played in the junior hockey league in the 1990s.
‘The hockey world is a strong community and life during this time for these families is difficult so we like to do what we can to make this a little bit easier for people.’ — ANDREW TRIMBLE, New England Wolves coach
“He will always be a great man in our hearts,” said his sister, who posted on Twitter under the name Debbie Jayne. “The tears just keep coming.”
Jaxon Joseph, 20, the son of former NHL player Chris Joseph, was among the leading scorers in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoffs.
Xavier Labelle, 18, was described by his brother, Isaac, as a best friend, teammate, ally and brother.
“I have no words to describe what I’m feeling,” Isaac Labelle wrote. “We’ve been through so much together. We had a special bond from the day you were born.”