Editor’s Note: Xavier Labelle’s name has been removed from this list. According to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice he had been incorrectly identified as one of the players killed in the bus accident. The Office of the Chief Coroner has apologized for the misidentification.
Ten Humboldt Broncos players, two coaches, a radio announcer, a team statistician, the athletic therapist and the bus driver are among the 16 people confirmed dead by the RCMP following Friday night’s horrific crash between the junior hockey team’s bus and a tractor-trailer in northeastern Saskatchewan.
Here’s a look at the victims of the tragic accident:
Dayna Brons
Broncos athletic therapist Dayna Brons died Wednesday as a result of the injuries she sustained in the bus crash.
In a statement, the family said she died “surrounded by those she loved and those who loved her.”
Brons, who graduated from University of Regina, with degree in Kinesiology and Health Studies, joined the Broncos in 2016.
WATCH: Humboldt Broncos’ athletic therapist Dayna Brons dies as result of injuries suffered in bus crash
Logan Schatz
Team captain Logan Schatz’s death was confirmed by his father Kelly.
Kelly Schatz said his son served as team captain for the past two-and-a-half years, and was a member of the team for just over four.
The Allan, Sask. native played centre and was named the league’s player of the month in February after earning points in eight of nine games.
The elder Schatz said his family was seeking solace in one another.
“It’s hard,” he said. “I’ve got four other kids and they’re here, which is nice.”
A memorial service for Schatz is scheduled for Sunday, April 15 at 1 p.m. at the Allan Communiplex in Allan, Sask.
Jaxon Joseph
Edmonton native Joseph, son of former Edmonton Oilers defenceman Chris Joseph, also perished in the crash.
Joseph’s death was confirmed by the Surrey Eagles, his former team in the British Columbia Hockey League.
“I feel like I’m going to turn a corner and you’re going to be there waiting for me with that big goofy smile on your face,” Taylor Joseph said in an Instagram post. “I never imagined I would lose my little brother so young… Please hold your families close tonight, you never know when it will be your last. And please please pray for the speedy recovery of the 14 who are injured, and for the families who have lost their loved one. I love you so much Jaxon, our lives have forever changed and I honestly don’t know how I’m going to live without you. Love you Jax”
The Broncos website says Joseph, 20, was among the leading scorers in the SJHL playoffs, playing on a line with team captain Schatz.
Watch: Jaxon Joseph among 4 victims from the Edmonton area
In a profile published on the team’s website in January, Schatz paid tribute to Joseph and fellow linemate Conner Lukan, who also lost his life in the crash.
“I’ve really clicked with Joseph and Lukan. I can’t say enough good things about them,” Schatz said.
A funeral for Joseph will he held on Tuesday, April 17 at 1 p.m. at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Conner Lukan
Slave Lake, Alta. native Lukan, 21, played for the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) for three seasons before joining the Broncos.
The Saints shared news of Lukan’s passing, as well as that of four other alumni — Hunter, Joseph and Stephen Wack — on Twitter.
“One of the best hockey players and an even greater guy off the ice,” Tyson Chizma wrote on Twitter.
“I’ve known Conner for several years, playing against him throughout the majority of my minor hockey career and trying out for a handful of teams with him. I always looked up to him as a role model.”
A memorial service for Lukan will be held on Wednesday, April 18 at 1 p.m. at The Gathering Place, with a luncheon to follow at the Multi Rec Centre in Slave Lake.
Stephen Wack
Defenceman Stephen Wack’s cousin Alicia said the 21-year-old “absolutely lived and breathed hockey.”
“Stephen has always been an amazing person, son, big brother, and cousin. He is one of the most adventurous, ambitious, and loving people that I have ever been blessed to know,” she said in a Facebook post.
The St. Albert, Alta. native played for the Broncos for two seasons after moving over from the AJHL.
A funeral for Wack will be held on Tuesday, April 17 at 1 p.m. at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Logan Hunter
Hunter, 18, is being remembered by family and friends as a passionate hockey player with a sharp sense of humour who was also an incredibly kind young man.
“Sports was his life,” his mother Shauna Nordstrom told Global News. “He not only played — his dream and goal was to play Junior A hockey; that was his ultimate dream and he did it. I’m so proud of him — he loved every game, every shift and his teammates.
Logan Hunter was killed in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash on April 6.Hunter, originally from St. Albert, Alta., played as a right-winger.
“Today we mournfully send our thoughts to everyone in the Humboldt Broncos family,” The Precision Goalie Institute said in a Facebook post. “Last summer, a wonderful young man named Logan Hunter lent us his grace, skill and professionalism to humbly shoot on our young goalies at camp. Our thoughts are with his teammates, friends and family. Logan was the kind of young man we all would be proud to call a son, brother, cousin, teammate and friend.”
A funeral for Hunter will he held on Tuesday, April 17 at 1 p.m. at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Evan Thomas
Thomas, who was 18 and from Saskatoon, was a forward in his first season with the Humboldt Broncos.
“Evan is being remembered as a boy who was devoted to hockey, and who was an excellent player,” said a news release issued by the Western Hockey League Kelowna Rockets.
Thomas’s dad, Scott, was a captain for the Tacoma Rockets before the team moved to Kelowna. He said Evan was an athlete, playing both hockey and baseball,
and a strong student.
“He was a self-driven, motivated, retrospective, quiet, confident and very self-assured young man,” Scott told the Canadian Press.
“He liked sports, but at times I think he tolerated sports so he could be a teammate,” he said. “He just loved being a teammate. He loved his teammates and I think that was more
important to him than the actual sport he was playing.”
“He loved those boys. He really loved those boys.”
A celebration of life for Thomas will be held on Monday, April 16 at 1 p.m. at the SaskTel Center in Saskatoon. Family, friends and the community are invited to attend.
Adam Herold
Herold would have turned 17 on Thursday.
The Montmartre, Sask. native played as a defenceman for the Regina Pat Canadians until just weeks ago, but was sent to join the Broncos for their playoff round when the Pat Canadians’ season wrapped up.
WATCH: Adam Herold’s father remembers son
Pat Canadians coach John Smith described Herold as a hard worker and a good leader, noting that Herold was team captain for the 2017-2018 season.
“He was a wonderful young man. Never afraid to help his teammates. Always there for them. Good, typical Saskatchewan farm boy. Always load the bus, unload the bus, never afraid to roll up his sleeves and get work done,” Smith said.
Herold is survived by his mom, dad and an older sister, according to Smith.
A funeral for Herold is scheduled for Friday, April 13 at 2 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Montmartre, Sask.
Jacob Leicht
Humboldt native Leicht, 19, was a left-winger for the Broncos, according to online hockey statistics resource Elite Prospects.
“My heart is broken. Your laughter was so contagious and you had a smile that lit up any room. I wish we had more time..it seems so unfair,” said Cassidy Tolley in a Facebook post.
“You weren’t just family, you were genuinely one of my favourite people and someone I could always count on at all hours of the day and night. I keep thinking your name will appear on my phone anytime now. Bad things truly happen to the best people, and I can’t wait until I get to see you again. Heaven gained so many beautiful people yesterday, may you all rest easy.”
A celebration of life for Leicht will take place on Friday, April 13 at 10 a.m. at the Elgar Petersen Arena in the Humboldt Uniplex.
“Please wear your hockey jerseys or shirts and bring your horns and noisemakers,” a service notice reads.
Logan Boulet
Boulet passed away after being kept on life support through Saturday night so that his organs could be harvested for donation. His family said in a statement earlier that Logan signed his donor card as soon as he turned 21.
“Logan had made it known, and very clear to his family, that he had signed his organ donor card when he turned 21 just a few weeks ago,” Boulet’s godfather, Neil Langevin, said in statement on behalf of the family.
“Logan’s strong heart continues to beat,” he said. “All counted, six people will receive the gift of life from Logan … His other organs will be donated to science as he requested.
“These actions alone give voice to the selfless and benevolent nature Logan possessed in life.”
The Lethbridge, Alta. native played as a defenceman for the Broncos.
A celebration of life for Boulet will take place on Saturday, April 14 at 1 p.m. at the Nicholas Sheran Ice Centre in Lethbridge.
Family and friends are also invited to pay their respects on Friday, April 13 between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Martin Brothers Riverview Chapel in Lethbridge.
Parker Tobin
Parker Tobin, 18, has been confirmed dead by Saskatchewan’s coroner’s office.
The goalie was from Stony Plain, Alta.
The coroner’s office previously said Xavier Labelle had been identified as one of the victims of the crash.
“This was an identification error and Xavier is not deceased, ” a statement from the ministry said. “Our condolences go out to the family of Parker Tobin. Unfortunately, Parker is one of the 15 that have lost their lives in this terrible tragedy.”
A funeral for Tobin will be held on Tuesday, April 17 at 1 p.m. at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Darcy Haugan
Head coach Darcy Haugan was described in online tributes as a “great man” and amazing mentor to young players. His sister confirmed his death on Twitter.
“The Humboldt Broncos were about – not building hockey players – but creating amazing young men. And that’s what we had in our organization, amazing young men,” said Kevin Garinger, president of the Humboldt Broncos,
“That was Darcy’s belief and through that they would ultimately become great hockey players too.”
Haugan played junior hockey in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in the 1990s before becoming a coach.
He was married and had two children.
“He will always be a great man in our hearts,” Haugan’s sister posted on Twitter under the name Debbie Jayne. “The tears just keep coming.”
A celebration of life for Haugan is planned for Saturday, April 14 at 2 p.m. at the Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt Uniplex.
Mark Cross
Haugan’s assistant coach Cross previously played for SJHL’s Estevan Bruins in Estevan, Sask., winning the team’s Bill Shinske Ethics Award on two occasions, according to David Willberg, editor of the Estevan Mercury newspaper.
His cousin Graeme Cross said in an online tribute that his cousin was a caring and generous young man with an amazing smile.
“I can honestly say I didn’t know a more kind-hearted, generous, caring and overall nice person,” he said. “Mark was one of those people that just made you feel safe and brought a special spark when you were in his presence.”
Cross was 27 years old and a Strasbourg, Sask. native, according to online hockey database HockeyDB. The Highway Hockey League said Cross was named a most valuable player last year while with the Strasbourg Maroons.
A memorial service for Cross will be held on Saturday, April 21 at 2 p.m. at the Strasbourg Recreation Centre. It will be open to the public.
Tyler Bieber
Bieber was a radio announcer who worked for Humboldt station CHBO. His death was confirmed by a manager with Golden West Broadcasting, the company that owns CHBO, in an email criculated to staff.
Saskatchewan native Bieber also ran his own CFL website for years, and was credited with being one of the first independent journalists to provide quality coverage of the league, according to a post on CFL website 3DownNation.
Bieber was keen to pursue sports journalism as a career, and took a step back from covering the CFL in order to cover the Broncos for CHBO, according to 3DownNation contributor John Hodge.
He also coached high school football and basketball, according to Hodge.
Steven Wilson, a co-worker in Weyburn, Sask., said it was Bieber’s first season announcing for the team. He also covered morning news.
“He definitely had a natural talent,” said Wilson. “He was just passionate about sports.”
“Having been with Golden West since the launch of Bolt FM in news and on-air, Tyler was a shining example of what it means to serve a community,” Lyndon Frieson, president of Golden West Radio, said in a statement posted on the station’s website.
A funeral service for Bieber will take place on Thursday, April 12 at 10 a.m. at the Elgar Petersen Arena in the Humboldt Uniplex.
Brody Hinz
Hinz, 18, was a statistician for the Broncos, and was being mentored by radio announcer Bieber, Golden West Radio said in a statement.
“Tragedy has hit our community and it reaches into every corner of life in Humboldt.”
READ MORE: Humboldt Broncos’ statistician Brody Hinz remembered for kindness, ‘generous spirit’
Community members say Hinz was an active volunteer in Humboldt who was always happy to help out wherever and whenever he could.
The night of the crash marked a double tragedy for Hinz’s family. A relative said on Facebook that another family member lost a baby boy in Humboldt hospital shortly after being born.
A funeral service for Hinz is planned for Saturday, April 14 at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church in Humboldt.
Glen Doerksen
Driving the entire Broncos contingent to the game was Glen Doerksen.
His death was confirmed by the Kinistino Tigers of the Wheatland Senior Hockey League; the organization said Doerksen drove their team bus to playoff games this spring.
“Our trips… were on horrible highways due to winter storms. We got on that bus and trusted him with our lives and both times he got us home safely,” the Tigers wrote in a Facebook post.
“We will never forget the smile on your face as we left Allan after winning the Championship and got you to give ‘two honks for the Cup.’ Tonight Glen, we give two honks for you. Rest easy Sir.”
A funeral for Doerksen will be held on Friday, April 13 at 2 p.m. at Carrot River Community Hall.
WATCH: Community comes together in Humboldt to mourn
The pews were full this morning at the St. Augustine Catholic Church in Humboldt, where Rev. Joseph Salish told parishioners that if they feel like crying, they should cry.
“Our lives will never be the same again,” he said. “Wound is the place where light enters you… our response is to open ourselves in prayer.”
READ MORE: Hundreds including Justin Trudeau expected to attend Humboldt Broncos crash vigil
RCMP said the collision happened around 30 kilometres north of Tisdale, near the junction of Highway 35 and Highway 335.
Authorities haven’t released any information about the exact cause of crash.
The truck driver was uninjured in the crash, RCMP Asst. Commissioner Curtis Zablocki said. He was detained before being released and provided with mental health and counselling assistance.
— With files from the Canadian Press and Global News reporters Emily Mertz and Matt Battochio
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