By Jill Sperling

‘I’m doing a lot of praying’: Uncle of Broncos head coach grieving from Kamloops

Apr 8, 2018 | 3:13 PM

KAMLOOPS — The pain of loss after Friday’s bus crash in Saskatchewan that killed 15 people on board the Humboldt Broncos team bus is being felt in Kamloops. 

Head coach Darcy Haugan was one of the 15 killed when a semi truck collided with the bus. His uncle Gerald Haugan lives in Kamloops.

“When this accident happened I couldn’t believe it,” Gerald said. “(Darcy) .. had built up the team over the years to where they were probably contenders, so this is a real big shock, and we’re trying to get over it right now.” 

Gerald calls his nephew an outstanding athlete who excelled at most things he set his mind to, and says he had even been called up by the Kamloops Blazers. 

“They asked him to come to Kamloops here for the Blazers to fill in for an injury they had at centre ice,” Gerald said. “He kind of refused that because he was going to go to university in the United States to play hockey there.”

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Gerald grew up in Fosston, Saskatchewan, a village located along the same highway the accident took place. 

Gerald says he is spending a lot of time in prayer as he tries to cope with the loss.