Thoughts and prayers are pouring in from across the world for those affected by a devastating bus crash in Saskatchewan.
After their final regular season practice, members of the Winnipeg Jets shared their heartache for the players, families, and everyone affected by the tragedy.
“When I saw that come up on my phone, I just felt sick,” said defenceman Josh Morrissey, who spent parts of five seasons with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders.
“You just think for all those players and their families, everyone involved, the communities, it’s just horrible. You think about all the time and hours you spent on the bus yourself, not far from that area, so it’s devastating.”
Head coach Paul Maurice talked about how long bus rides are synonymous with junior hockey in Canada.
“All the best stories are told on the buses, it’s just them, it’s where the friendships are born, anticipation builds, the quietness of a bus after a tough loss, all of the things that you go through when you’re playing a sport,” Maurice said. It’s so much part of hockey life, especially at that age, to have it end like that, to have it be part of all the survivors’ lives now, it’s just an incredibly difficult thing.”
Jets forward Adam Lowry played his junior hockey with the Swift Current Broncos, who dealt with their own bus crash tragedy in 1986 that claimed four lives.
“I think we were all aware of the tragedy that happened, it’s definitely something that hits close to home. We’re very lucky to play the game we love. To have some kids, to have their dreams taken away from them and their lives ended so soon, it’s a huge tragedy. We’re all devastated as a hockey community.”
Lowry also reflected on how important hockey is to small communities across the country, especially in the Prairies.
“You look at all the small towns across Saskatchewan, everyone knows everybody, everyone comes to the games. You look at the support the community has to make sure those teams survive, you’re impacted by some of those victims. Whether you billeted them, served them at the restaurants, coached them, everything’s so interconnected there. It’s a huge loss for that community.”
The Winnipeg Jets will be holding a moment of silence ahead of their regular season finale at 6 p.m. against Chicago.
“We have routines that we run, but the game will not take centre stage. It will be played, and that’s it,” Maurice explained. “Every NHL player, junior, college, they’ve all gone through it. They’re there. In all the rinks, they’ll be remembered tonight and every day going forward. I’ve got teenagers at home. You can only imagine what those parents are going through.”
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