A fatal bus crash in Saskatchewan is reverberating through Northwestern Ontario’s hockey community.
SIJHL Commissioner Bryan Graham tells us that it’s hard to put into words how the collision that killed 15 people Friday is affecting players and families in our region.
He points to the words of Saskatchewan Junior League Commissioner Bill Chow, who called the tragedy their “worst nightmare”.
“We have players in our league that know players on the Humboldt Broncos, some that passed away in that tragic accident, so it really hits home,” Graham says.
According to Saskatchewan RCMP, eight survivors of the crash remain in Saskatoon hospitals, some in critical condition.
Graham says he’s reached out to the Saskatchewan Junior League to offer support, along with connecting SIJHL players with counselling to cope with the situation.
The collision happened on the way to a game on Friday, which Graham says is also painful for many parents to imagine given how much time teams spend on the road.
“You really feel for the families. You hope over time that some of the physical wounds will heal and some of the emotional wounds will heal, but they’ll never go away.”
Graham adds that the online fundraiser for the victims’ families has drawn plenty of donations, which he says shows how close-knit the hockey community is.
SIJHL teams joined many others this weekend in observing a moment of silence for the Broncos before their games.
(Photo courtesy of Bryan Graham)