Canada police say 14 dead after hockey bus crash
- by Jacquelyn Byrd
- in IT&Software
- — Apr 8, 2018
The accident sent shockwaves through western Canada as well as the hockey world.
As the country continues to mourn the deaths of 14 people killed in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, former National Hockey League player Sheldon Kennedy says he can relate to the grief people are feeling in the tragedy's wake.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and others posted their condolences.
"It is sort of every parent's worst nightmare", Henry said.
Tanner Lane, a former collegiate hockey player, called the team bus "a second home for players".
Police said 28 people, including the driver, were on board the bus of the Humboldt Broncos team when the crash occurred around 5 p.m. Friday on Highway 35 in Saskatchewan.
Postmedia News has confirmed the identities of several others on the bus who died, including head coach Darcy Haugan. Three of 14 the injured were in critical condition as of Saturday morning.
Canadian police said the truck driver was initially detained but has since been released and provided with mental health assistance.
There were 29 people on the bus, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said.
"It's a disgusting accident, my God", said Darren Opp, president of the Nipawin Hawks hockey team.
Aerial footage showed the bus on its side, its roof peeled back and its front end destroyed. It's open to North American-born players from the ages of 16 to 20. Tributes poured in online for father of two who was described as an awesome mentor to young players.
Avengers: Infinity War directors ask fans to fight spoilers
The brothers closed off their letter with " Good luck and happy viewing " and affixed their respective signatures at the end. Needless to say, it got comic book fans excited for more Marvel Studios-made movies.
STARS air ambulance has confirmed that they sent three helicopters to the scene.
The team in Swift Current provided Bronco sweaters and the Humboldt team was originally associated with nearby St. Peter's College, an affiliate of the University of Saskatchewan that operated a boys high school program until 1972. Many gathered at the community centre at the hockey arena there after word of the horrific crash began to circulate.
"It's overwhelming. It's been tough on everybody", Muench said in a phone interview. Daigon Elny, a member of last year's team, told CBC, "We were a family. A lot grew up in the community and everybody knows each other". The Broncos had been traveling to Game 5 of a semifinal in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League against the Nipawin Hawks.
-A Scotiabank study found that more than 150,000 Canadians are volunteers helping with amateur hockey teams and, from the biggest cities to the smallest Arctic hamlets, the country has more than 2,500 rinks. First responders are on the scene doing everything possible to help. Multiple crisis workers were assisting in a separate area.
The Saskatchewan league is a feeder system for higher levels of hockey, with many graduating to play at United States and Canadian colleges and major junior league level, while some go on to the National Hockey League (NHL).
"The Philadelphia Flyers are devastated to learn of the tragedy involving members of the Humboldt Broncos Junior ice hockey team", Flyers president Paul Holmgren said.
A bus carrying a Canadian hockey team in Saskatchewan has collided with a truck, causing numerous fatalities. "I am freaking out".
"The images and the injuries that I saw yesterday, really that's what they reminded me of, when there was an airstrike and a massive number of people would be coming in at the same time in awful shape", said Masri, who has done work in war-torn Syria.
"We don't know who has passed and we don't expect to know right away", he said.
"I think one thing that we underestimate with the impact of trauma, and PTSD, and going through things like this, is the magnitude of the impact", he says.
