Canadians from coast to coast are standing with the Humboldt Broncos.
Fifteen people were killed, 14 others injured, when the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team’s bus was struck by a semi-truck on Friday night in rural Saskatchewan.
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In the Peterborough area, several teams are offering their condolences to the Broncos.
Those teams include the OHL’s Peterborough Petes, the Cobourg Cougars of the OJHL and the Lakefield Chiefs of the PJHL.
Before their playoff game on Sunday, the Chiefs and Stayner Siskins paid tribute to the Broncos by standing together at centre ice.
“The bus trips are special. It’s sacred for us players,” said Braeden Kublick, Chiefs assistant captain. “We didn’t know them personally, but it feels like we lost someone in our community.”
“It shook me up a bit,” said Hunter Jones, Petes goaltender. “We log a lot of minutes on the bus. It’s a second dressing room for us. Your junior hockey team is your second family.”
Cougars general manager Adam Yahn has had brief conversations with the late Broncos coach Darcy Haugan.
“It’s a big league, but you get to know guys well,” said Yahn. “Absolute class, very genuine and nice gentleman. Even though it was the first time we talked on the phone, it was like we knew each other.”
The Cougars plan to honour the Broncos next season.