Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy hits Battlefords North Stars hard

As the country and world is still reeling from the horrific bus collision involving the SJHL Humboldt Broncos, coaches and players from the Battlefords North Stars are especially feeling the pain as many of them personally know those who were affected by the tragedy.

The collison on Friday outside Nipawin has left 15 players and staff members dead, and 14 others injured.

Clearly, the hockey community is a tight one, certainly in Canada, but particularly in Saskatchewan, where cities’ and towns’ junior clubs are often the lifeblood of the city. Humboldt is one of those places, as is the Battlefords, where SJHL North Stars head coach Brandon Heck once again offered his condolences on Sunday.

“I can’t stress how much our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved: billets, the organization, and family and friends,” the first-year Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League coach told BattlefordsNOW. “The whole league. I feel for our guys [too]. It’s everyone in the league.”

Heck first found out following an email he received from the SJHL, but he had to drive home to Camrose, Alta. that night.

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“It took me a while to comprehend it was players and coaches. When you hear a bus accident, I didn’t think it was players. I thought it was whoever else they hit,” Heck said. “I pulled over three or four times to look at Twitter and Google and every which way you could think of and constantly calling other coaches and contacts.”

A tragedy like this can cut to the core for those close to it, as it did for many players on the Battlefords North Stars, some of whom were friends with some of the fallen and injured Broncos.

Some players share a hometown with certain Broncos, some players played AAA midget hockey together, and some even went to high school together.

“There are connections everywhere,” Heck said on Sunday afternoon. “You’re seeing how devastated they are when they have close friends. That’s the hardest part to digest. You obviously know how great the hockey players are on that Humboldt team when you see how devastated our group is and how emotional [they got].”

Heck said the team hung out together and were checking social media and texting when the news first broke. On Saturday morning, they gathered together.

“They came in and they talked to some councillors and let it out,” Heck said. “It’s been dark days. I think losing out in the [semifinal] series, it puts it into perspective for what truly is important in life.”

Seeing the support reach far and wide has certainly helped for Heck.

In addition to a GoFundMe page that has raised nearly $4 million as of Sunday afternoon, countless NHL teams honoured the Broncos prior to their games on Saturday, as did the Saskatchewan Rush lacrosse team. On Sunday morning, two NHL coaches from Saskatchewan, Edmonton bench boss Todd McLellan and Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan, even delivered presents to the surviving members of the Broncos who are recovering in hospital.

Heck said seeing the GoFundMe climb so quickly was particularly touching, but that it’s more than that.

“Everyone talks about the hockey world and you hear Todd McLellan and Glenn Gulutzan were in Saskatoon today [at the hospital], that’s why I love hockey,” Heck said. “Because the number one thing is everyone’s a good person and they come together.”

While the North Stars season is now over, the team is having their year-end team dinner on Monday night.

Before then, the team is also organzing a gathering at St. Joseph’s Church in North Battleford at 7 p.m. on Sunday night for those affected by the tragic accident. That coincides with the vigil in Humboldt at Elgar Petersen Arena, which will be aired live on CKBI and CJNB. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Scott Moe will attend the event.

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @NathanKanter11