Hockey world in shock
NHL TEAMS HOLD CEREMONIES TO HONOUR HUMBOLDT BRONCOS
On almost any other morning, Mike Babcock’s pre-game chat with reporters might begin with banter about his line combinations, scratches or the playoffs set to begin next week. Saturday wasn’t a regular morning. Babcock, the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, fought back tears as he stepped to the podium at Air Canada Centre. He was in pain, just like his home province. A horrific bus crash involving a Saskatchewan junior hockey team, the Humboldt Broncos, killed 15 people Friday, including its head coach and captain, with another 14 sent to hospital.
“It’s got to rip the heart out of your chest,” said Babcock, who grew up in Saskatoon. “We pray for those families and think about them. “Horrific, horrific accident. Tough day.” Toronto centre Tyler Bozak, a Regina native, said he had difficulty sleeping after hearing the stunning news.
“You can’t really put into words, anything,” Bozak said ahead of Saturday’s regular-season finale against the Montreal Canadiens. “I can’t imagine what everyone’s going through back in Saskatchewan, and what’s happening there.
“You just send your love and pray for everyone that’s involved, and hope for the best. Saskatchewan is a great community of people. Everyone will rally together and do the best they can, but obviously a really tragic situation.”
Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly left home on the West Coast at 14 to play hockey at the renowned Notre Dame private school in Wilcox, Sask., before spending three seasons in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors.
“Growing up playing hockey and spending a great deal of time in Saskatchewan, you gain appreciation for the kind of people that come from there,” he said. “But in times like these you definitely need people around you, and our thoughts and our hearts go out to the Humboldt Broncos and their families.”
The Winnipeg Jets and Chicago Blackhawks wore “BRONCOS” on the backs of their jerseys instead of nameplates, and stood side-by-side around the centre-ice circle during a moment of silence before their game at Bell MTS Place.
Both Winnipeg and Chicago, along with the NHL, pledged to each donate $25,000 to the Humboldt club.
Teams across the league held similar ceremonies and wore decals with the Broncos’ logo on their helmets.
The Jets, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames said they would be sending the proceeds from each arena’s 50/50 draw to the victims and their families.
Moments of silence were also observed at the men’s curling world championship in Las Vegas, where Canada’s Brad Gushue is competing in the tournament’s playoffs, and prior to the baseball game in Texas between the Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays.