The Vancouver Canucks will visit Humboldt later this week following the tragic bus crash involving the junior hockey team the Humboldt Broncos on Friday.
Speaking at the end-of-season press conference, president of hockey operations Trevor Linden, said he was 16 years old in 1986 and attended the memorial in Swift Current Saskatchewan after four members of the Swift Current Broncos were killed in a bus crash.
“I think, as a 16-year-old kid, you’re invincible,” said Linden. “I hopped on the bus the next day and went to Prince Albert and never thought anything of it. I sit here some 30 years later and it has a much bigger impact.”
“Being a father myself, it’s heartbreaking. I don’t think there are any words that can speak of such an unthinkable tragedy.”
WATCH: Canucks to visit Humboldt later this week: Trevor Linden
Linden said former Vancouver Canuck Derek Dorsett and current Canuck Derek Pouliot are putting together a group to go to Humboldt.
“I’m sure most players would say this but the bus is where you have the most fun,” said Linden. “For me, it was card games and doing homework and sleeping under the seats, that’s what we did.”
Speaking about the rest of the season, Linden said without the Sedin twins, they are going to be a young team next year. “There’s going to be some bumps in the road for sure,” he said.
The team, which did not make the playoffs, had a dramatic finale with the departure of Daniel and Henrik Sedin.
The twins were able to give fans a home thrill by scoring a game-winning goal together on Thursday before the team fell just short of victory in their last game as Canucks in Edmonton this weekend.
“These two guys have worn letters in our room for a long long time,” said head coach Travis Green.
“They’ve been the leaders of the franchise for years so it’s going to look a lot different. The inside of the room is going to feel a lot different with them not being there. It’s going to look different, it’s going to feel different.”
Green said new leaders are going to have to step forward but did not give any indication of who will be named captain for next year.
“I’m not going say we will have a captain, I’m not going to say we won’t,” Green added.
WATCH: Canucks coach says without Sedins ‘it’s going to look different and feel different’
When asked about what is next for them, Henrik and Daniel said they aren’t closing the door on eventually returning to hockey in another role.
“First off, we’re going to spend a lot of time with family and then we’ll see,” said Daniel.
Henrik added when the time comes and if there’s interest, then they will see.
“I’m sure there’s going to be opportunities for both of us, or maybe only Daniel, we’ll see,” he said.
WATCH: ‘It has to be a good fit’: Sedins on returning to hockey in different role
The twins also remarked on what an incredible send-off they received from the fans.
“The way it’s ended and how the fans came out and what they’ve done for us, it was incredible,” said Henrik.
WATCH: Sedin Twins say they didn’t expect such an incredible farewell from fans
While celebrated for their elite hockey ability, the Sedins are also recognized for how they interacted with teammates, opponents and fans.
“I think it’s just how they treat people in general,” said Oilers winger and former Canucks player Zack Kassian. “They’re just world-class people who treat everyone with respect.”
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