By paNOW Staff

Community mourns, plans support for survivors after Humboldt crash

Apr 7, 2018 | 11:55 AM

TISDALE, SK — Support is pouring in for the families of 15 people killed and another 14 injured Friday evening when a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team collided with a semi North of Tisdale.

Humboldt Broncos head coach Darcy Haugan along with players Adam Herold and Logan Schatz have been identified as three of the 15 victims.

Kelly Schatz, Logan’s father, told the Canadian Press his 20-year-old son played for the Broncos for just over four years and had served as team captain for the past two-and-a-half years.

He says the family is seeking solace in one another.

“It’s hard,” Kelly Schatz said. “I’ve got four other kids and they’re here, which is nice.”

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The RCMP corrected numbers early Saturday. They have since confirmed the bus was carrying 29 people, including the driver, after originally reporting 28. Three of the injured are said to be in critical condition. Police are not identifying the victims and have not said if the deceased were players or staff.

STARS Air Ambulance confirmed there were four flight missions last night to the scene.

Early Saturday morning, the father of Derek Patter, who survived the crash, shared an image of his son and two others “bonding and healing” in hospital.

Derek Grayson and Nick bonding and healing in hospital pic.twitter.com/DzesIoT27B

— R J patter (@rjpatter) April 7, 2018

The collision occurred around 5 p.m. on Highway 35, approximately 30 kilometres north of Tisdale near the junction of Highway 335. The hockey team was on their way to a playoff game in Nipawin against the Hawks for Game 5 of their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) series.

Last night, the mayor of Humboldt, Rob Muench, said he and others went down to the Uniplex soon after they heard the news. He said many people were already at the rink, which is now a mobile crisis centre.

“They were just sitting there looking at the empty ice,” he said. “It has been a really sad evening here. A number of community members are here. We are trying to support each other. It has been a very sad day.”

He said the community is very tightly knit and that the team has always been a large part of the community.

“Those guys were very entertaining to watch. It is going to be kind of tough to go forward,” he said.

Broncos President, Kevin Garinger released a statement saying; “Our thoughts and prayers are extended to the families of our staff and athletes as well as to all who have been impacted by this horrible tragedy. 

“Our Broncos family is in shock as we try to come to grips with our incredible loss.”

https://t.co/ZktI5WOLsj Here is a statement from our team president.

— Humboldt Broncos (@HumboldtBroncos) April 7, 2018

The RCMP provided an update at around 9:30 p.m. Friday night. RCMP Insp. Ted Munro said rescue efforts remain ongoing and that, “significant services” had been deployed to the scene, including victim services. He said the road conditions at the time were unknown.

Darren Opp, president of the Hawks, said a semi T-boned the players’ bus that was coming to play against their team.

“It’s a horrible accident, my God,” he said. “It’s very, very bad.” Opp said the coaching staff and players from the Hawks are waiting to help.

The SJHL is cooperating with the RCMP with the incident involving the
Humboldt Broncos bus and a semi. RCMP investigation is ongoing and until the RCMP can provide the SJHL with facts about the incident; our thoughts and prayers are with the families and all involved.

— #PrayersForHumboldt (@theSJHL) April 7, 2018

Family members gathered at the Nipawin Apostolic Church. Pastor Jordan Gadsby at the church in Nipawin said more than 100 people gathered at the church — including parents and grandparents of the players who were on the bus.

“Lots of them are waiting for information,” he said. “Some of the families have gotten information and have gone to be with their kids. Some of them are waiting to hear if their kids are alive.”

paNOW’s Jeff D’Andrea was at the scene. “I have never seen so many emergency vehicles in such a close proximity before,” he said.

D’Andrea has covered hockey in and around Prince Albert for over seven years and knows a number of names on the roster who could have been on the bus.

“You look through the roster and you just kind of think, I don’t know, it is not a good thing to look at or imagine,” he said.

He also stopped by the church where families were gathering. He said there was a strong sense of support for one another.

“The organizers painted the picture that everyone was coming together and looking for answers and looking for peace as well,” he added.

Support and prayers pour in

Soon after the news broke, words of support and prayers rolled in from across North America from those both in and outside of the hockey world.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Humboldt Broncos organization, community, families, staff, billets, and everyone involved.

— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) April 7, 2018

“Words can not describe the loss that we feel tonight,” Premier Scott Moe wrote on Twitter. “From a grieving province, thank you to first responders and medical professionals for courageous response under the most difficult circumstances imaginable. Tonight, we must all pray for these families.”

Words can not describe the loss that we feel tonight.

From a grieving province, thank you to first responders & medical professionals for courageous response under the most difficult circumstances imaginable.

Tonight, we all must pray for these families.https://t.co/dEnhKMkDxJ

— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) April 7, 2018

Former NHLer Sheldon Kennedy, who lost four teammates in 1986 when a bus carrying the Swift Current Broncos crashed, also weighed in.

Sending all my thoughts and prayers to those impacted with the @HumboltBroncos bus crash.
Pls don’t share any unconfirmed information. These kids families and friends
Are all searching for the correct info.#PrayersForHumboldt

— Sheldon Kennedy (@ShelKenn) April 7, 2018

A crowdfunding campaign to help victims and families was launched Friday night and has raised more than $1 million.

Humboldt resident Sylvie Kellington said she was shocked to learn of the crash Friday night. Kellington said she spoke with friends about how she could help and started the GoFundMe page despite having no personal connection to any of the players.

“We’re a really small community, and all of us here in Humboldt are definitely somehow connected to the team,” Kellington told paNOW.

Kellington said she hopes the funds ease some of the financial burden placed upon the families of the victims. She said the funds raised will be given directly to the Broncos’ management, in order to ensure all of the money reaches the families.

— With files from the Canadian Press, CKOM, Jeff D’Andrea, Glynn Brothen, Taylor MacPherson, 

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow