A nation is in mourning after the loss of 15 hockey players and staff of Humboldt, Saskatchewan after they were tragically taken in a collision with a semi-truck Friday evening, April 6.
The team was scheduled to play a game at Nipawin during playoff season when the incident occurred. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
Of those 29 people that were on the bus, Alberta natives Logan Boulet, from Lethbridge, Head Coach and General Manager Darcy Haugan of Peace River, Logan Hunter of Saint Albert, Conner Lukan of Slave Lake, Stephen Wack from St. Albert, and Parker Tobin of Stoney Plain have all passed away in the incident.
Among the survivors, Alberta’s own Graysen Cameron of Olds, Derek Patte of Edmonton, and Ryan Straschnitzki of Airdrie are in hospital recovering from a varying degree of injuries.
The Drumheller Dragons took to Twitter Friday to share their condolences for their brother team stating: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the @HumboldtBroncos of @theSJHL and the friends and families of those affected by the tragic accident in Saskatchewan tonight. Words cannot express the loss the hockey community is feeling right now. #HumboldtStrong.”
Dragons Assistant Coach Brayden Klimosko is a native to the small town of Humboldt and has since returned home to mourn with his community. He was a player of the Broncos team and was most recently last years’ Assistant Manager for them as well.
Over 52,000 contributors have donated $3.5 million of their $4 million total raised in just 24 hours. The Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets honoured the team by donating the 50/50 ticket proceeds in amounts of $116,000 and $136,000 respectively from their games on Saturday, April 7. The Chicago Blackhawks and the NHL have also added $25,000 to the donation.
The link to the GoFundMe Page can be found here.

    Ava Harrington represented the Canadian Badlands Aquatic Club (CBAC) along with four other teammates from Airdrie at the Swim Alberta Spring Championships in Edmonton from Friday, March 16 to Sunday, March 18.
    This is considered the top event for Swim Alberta as teams from the entire province come to push their tough qualifying times.
    “She did amazing,” said CBAC Coach Sheila Martin. “She continues to surprise and impress us.”
    Harrington swam in six events, achieving new personal best times in each one. She claimed silver in the 200 meter Freestyle, bronze in 50 meter Freestyle, fourth in 100 meter Freestyle and sixth in 50 meter Butterfly.
    For her 400 meter Freestyle event, Harrington moved from 15th place to a fifth place finish for swimming under five minutes.
    At just 12 years old, Harrington has achieved three Western Canadian 13-year-old qualifying times in 50 meter, 100 meter and 200 meter Freestyle as well as the Swim Alberta Youth Recognition Award for being Top 10 in the province for her age.
    “She is definitely on route to be on the national stage that’s for sure,” said Martin.
    Harrington will be making an appearance at the Swim Alberta Summer Championships in July as she has already made qualifying times to enter the event.
    “We are pretty proud of her and we are looking forward to her future accomplishments,” said Martin.