Montrealers honoured the lives of 15 people killed in the horrific Humboldt Broncos bus crash by leaving hockey sticks on their front porches.
READ MORE: 15 dead in Humboldt Broncos bus crash
Christopher Scott, a hockey player since the age of four, put out his piece of timber after seeing #PutYourStickOut and #SticksOutForHumboldt go viral.
“It made me feel proud to be Canadian and to know that even though we are a big country, we are still a tight community that is always there for one another,” Scott said.
The crash happened Friday as the team was heading to a semifinal game against the Nipawin Hawks.
READ MORE: Where and when you can pay tribute to victims of Humboldt Broncos bus crash
The team bus collided with a semi-truck, killing 15 and injuring 14 others near Tisdale, Sask.
READ MORE: Canadians are leaving their hockey sticks on front porches to pay tribute to Humboldt Broncos
Winnipeg Jets broadcaster Brian Munz, a Humboldt native, was one of the first to post the hockey stick tribute on Twitter.
The tragedy hit close to home for Scott, who has played hockey with several teams over the years.
“I understand how close you can get as a hockey team and how much you can bond with your teammates,” he said.
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“The survivors are going to walk out of the hospital having lost not just teammates, but brothers.”
The aim is to send well wishes to the Broncos team and the many families involved.
READ MORE: Powerful photos show a grieving Humboldt as a nation mourns horrific tragedy
“It’s just a small gesture to show that the country is behind them not only in their physical recovery, but also in their emotional recovery,” Scott said.
READ MORE: Here are the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash
Darren Gill, father of a young five-year-old hockey player, put out 15 sticks — one for each victim of the crash — with #HumboldtStrong.
The West Island native is also a coach, saying he could not imagine going through such tragedy.
READ MORE: Kingston man speaks to Humboldt crash intersection, where he lost his family 20 years ago
“The thought of what those parents are going through is unbearable,” Gill said.
“The Humboldt Broncos represent us – Canadians, hockey players, parents, sons. It’s moments like these that make you realize how precious life is.”
READ MORE: Paralyzed from Saskatchewan bus crash, Ryan Straschnitzki plots return to ice
Gill said he was “fortunate to get to know,” Tyler Bieber, a victim in the crash.
“Bieber was doing what he loved and the sports world will certainly miss him,” he said.
Global Montreal Senior Anchor Jamie Orchard also paid tribute to the Broncos team by putting out her sons’ hockey sticks.
Montreal businesses like the Ye Olde Orchard Pub & Grill in Pointe-Claire have also placed a lone hockey stick outside their door in support.
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