The Moose Jaw Generals retired No. 9 Thursday in honour of Evan Thomas, who was killed in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash.
A pre-game ceremony was held by the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL) team as a memorial banner was raised to the rafters at Mosaic Place.
The Saskatoon native played with the Generals during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, during which time he recorded 63 points.
“To have Evan recognized here forever is quite a thing for us. We’re going to be able to come back and see his number up there. It will definitely … put a little warmth in our hearts when we see it up there for sure,” Evan’s father Scott Thomas said.
Evan, 18, was in his first season as a forward with the Junior A hockey team when he died in the collision between the Broncos’ bus and a semi-trailer on April 6. Sixteen players and staff were killed in the crash and 13 others were injured.
The Generals lost to the Notre Dame Argos 3-2 in SMAAAHL action.