A decision was made on Wednesday for the 2017-18 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season to carry on after the tragic Humboldt Broncos bus crash.
Sixteen people have died since the horrific collision between the Broncos’ bus and a semi-trailer on April 6 north of Tisdale. The team was on the way to a semi-final playoff game in Nipawin at the time.
RCMP said 13 other people were injured and three players have since been released from hospital.
Representatives from each SJHL hockey team, which forms the league’s Board of Governors, had a conference call to decide on whether the league finals would move forward or cease for the end of the season.
“We had a gruelling decision to make with respect on how we can pay tribute and honour the Humboldt Broncos,” SJHL President Bill Chow said in a press release.
“On behalf of the Board of Governors, this intensive decision has been made and that decision is to carry through and finish off the 2017-2018 season. The league will play hockey.”
The message, “The power of healing is in the game,” was sent out from the Broncos’ board.
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The schedule for the SJHL final between the Estevan Bruins and the Nipawin Hawks is as follows:
- Game 1 – April 14 @ 7:30 p.m. CT in Nipawin;
- Game 2 – April 15 @ 7:30 p.m. in Nipawin;
- Game 3 – April 17 @ 7:30 p.m. in Estevan;
- Game 4 – April 18 @ 7:30 p.m. in Estevan;
- Game 5 – April 20 @ 7:30 p.m. in Nipawin;
- Game 6 – April 22 @ 7:30 p.m. in Estevan; and
- Game 7 – April 24 @ 7:30 p.m. in Nipawin.
SJHL officials said there will be other special announcements made from other organizations in the near future.