When tragedy strikes Canada, it doesn't matter if it takes place in our nation's capital of Ottawa or in the small community of Humboldt, Sask., It feels as if almost everyone across this beautiful country is affected in one way or another.
When tragedy strikes Canada, it doesn't matter if it takes place in our nation's capital of Ottawa or in the small community of Humboldt, Sask., It feels as if almost everyone across this beautiful country is affected in one way or another.
Sixteen people travelling with the Humboldt Broncos junior 'A' hockey team died and another 14 were injured in a horrific bus accident on April 6 that has the entire country mourning, including our hometown of Cochrane.
Local hockey teams that are similar in stature such as the Cochrane junior 'B' Generals of the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) and the Cochrane female junior 'A' Chaos of the Alberta Junior Female Hockey League (AJFHL) were affected in their own way when they heard the news of the accident.
"I struggled with it all day and the following days when I heard the news. I couldn't count the number of bus trips I've had over my hockey career and never once did I think that was a possibility," said now former Generals forward Talus Hume.
"I didn't know any of the people involved personally, but it's an extremely sad time for those affected and I'm sending my thoughts and prayers to everyone involved."
Hume spent five seasons with Cochrane and said that he had a lot of memories during his time with the Generals including the countless number of bus trips he took with his teammates to different towns in Alberta.
"The best part is just spending time with your teammates. Everything from movies, music, pranks, video games, cards, post game meals and telling stories," Hume said.
"They all serve as special memories when I look back on my hockey career."
Chaos head coach Derek Loomer agreed with Hume, as his team was in the midst of the AJFHL Western Showcase tournament when they heard the heartbreaking news, one that had an impact on one of their own players.
"Just gut wrenching. When we got the news Friday night, it didn't even seem real ... as more and more news starts coming in, you start to talking with other people in the hockey community and you realize how that could have been anybody," Loomer said.
"We've been on buses too many times to count and when a tragedy such as that happens in such an instant, it impacts so many people across our country and even across the world. The tributes that have come in from the President of the United States (Donald Trump) and from the Queen (Elizabeth II), various of other people across the world see this tragedy for what it is and how it impacts such a tight knit hockey community ... it's heart wrenching. It was hard. I got the newspapers the next day and I wasn't even able to get through them just because it was too hard to read and digest how hard it is for those guys."
"Unfortunately, one of our players, her cousin was killed in the crash. He was a member of the Broncos and played for them and she played for us Friday night and found out later that evening."
"She was unable to finish the weekend for us just dealing with that tragedy ... so even that just brings it closer to home with our organization and I just feel so bad for her."
When asked the question of whether teams or leagues should look at another form of transportation, Loomer feels like the bus is still the best and safest way to transport his players to and from games.
"The tragedy here really sticks out, I still believe the bus is a safer form of transportation for getting around the province. There can always be better signage on roads and better ways to help people prepare ... I don't know the details about what happened at the intersection where this particular accident occurred," Loomer said.
"I just know when I'm putting my team on the road for an away game up north or down in Lethbridge, I'd rather have us all on a bus. If there's difficult road conditions, rather than having the girls driving or different groups of girls in vans spread out, I think it just increases the possibility of a tragedy, I just don't think it would be 15 people."
"I think the scale of this makes it a lot broader and more of a world event, but as far as a impact to the families and the organization, if anybody were to be killed in a situation where you're travelling to a game, it would have a major impact on you."
Hume was similar in his response when asked if parents should deter their child from partaking in a particular sport due to bus travel after these events.
"There are going to be hazards with every mode of transportation. I've taken the bus many times in my hockey career and we were always safe to and from those away games," Hume said.
"But I think by no means should it prevent anyone from playing hockey or any other sport for that matter."
Loomer said if there was one positive to come out of these tragic events, it's that the Canadians have proven they will support one another in a time of need.
"I think it shows how significant of impact that particular event has across the province as well as the country. I think it also shows that everybody has some type of connection and feels a very emotional connection and willingness to help," Loomer said.
"It just shows how tight-knit and close the hockey community really is."
The Chaos alo held a fundraiser and while the grand total is unknown at this point, the team will be donating both to the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) as well as the Broncos organization.
