The entire Saskatchewan legislature reacted with shock to the news that 15 members of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team had been killed Friday in a collision involving their team bus.
Scott Moe, only a couple of months into his new role as Premier, found himself giving a statement at a news conference Saturday after on the biggest hockey tragedy ever to hit the country, let alone the province of Saskatchewan.
“Today our heart is broken. On that bus were young men, vibrant smart talented young men, with everything to look forward to. Young men just beginning their lives, they were guided by dedicated coaches, staff and volunteers. They played hockey in this league, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, and they played on this team, the Humboldt Broncos, because they had tremendous talent. They’re among the very best in our country.
“My wife and I were discussing just this last night. In these young men, the players, the coaches the staff, every individual and family in this province will see themselves. In these boys we see teammates, we see classmates, we see friends, we see brothers, sons and grandsons.
“These boys are our boys. Their team is our team. Their school is our school. Their community is our community. And their families are now our families. Today, I’m asking everyone in this province and across Canada to support our team, the Humboldt Broncos. I’m asking everyone to do what they can to support families that are suffering and a community that has been devastated by this loss, but a community that we know will persevere. At this dark moment, let the strong arms of Saskatchewan provide a loving embrace to the community and the families of the Humboldt Broncos. God bless Humboldt. God bless Saskatchewan.”
On Sunday, Moe attended the vigil held at Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was also in attendance, as were over 3,000 mourners.
At the legislature on Monday and Tuesday, Question Period was cancelled. However, the provincial budget presentation was scheduled to go on as scheduled on Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
Instead of Question Period on Monday, members spoke to a Motion of Condolence offered in the legislature.
It was a tearful Premier Moe who moved the motion, and he led the remarks in the legislature as recorded in Hansard:
Hon. Mr. Moe: — …Mr. Speaker, in time, light will penetrate this darkness. In fact in some ways it already has. Bronco defenceman Logan Boulet died in that crash Friday evening, but just a few weeks ago, just a few weeks prior, when he turned 21, Logan signed an organ donor card. And, Mr. Speaker, six people will live because Logan took the time to sign that card. His girlfriend, McKailyn Ives, called Logan a hero. She called him a hero on Facebook, and I believe McKailyn is right. She wrote, and I quote:
“I am so grateful that he chose me to be such a special part of his life. I love you deeply and I will always cherish the memories you gave me. I am so proud to be your girlfriend and I am so proud of you.”
Mr. Speaker, all of us are so proud of Logan.
This is our team, the Humboldt Broncos. This is our community, Mr. Speaker, the city of Humboldt — compassionate, tough, resilient, and united. These are our families. These are the families that we reach out to. These are the families that we embrace. These are the families that we uplift. These are the families that we support. Together we will get through this. Together we will persevere. Together we are Humboldt strong.
God bless the province of Saskatchewan, and God bless Humboldt, and God bless the Humboldt Broncos.
NDP leader Ryan Meili offered his comments.
Mr. Meili: —Thank you, Mr. Speaker. “I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be here, but I’m glad we are.” Those are the words that Pastor Sean Brandow, the chaplain of the Humboldt Broncos, used to start off his words at last night’s vigil in Humboldt where hundreds, over a thousand people were gathered together, coming together to share in their grief. And I felt that that summed up so well how we all were feeling. Nobody would want to see an event of this magnitude, any such tragedy. But when one happens, what we would want is to be together, to be able to come together and share in our grief, in our sorrow. To come together in prayer and in community.
Other members of the legislature were emotional. Carrot River Valley MLA Fred Bradshaw noted that the bus driver was from his riding.
Mr. Bradshaw: — … Mr. Speaker, the bus driver, Glen Doerksen, was from Carrot River. He leaves behind his wife Karen, his son Cameron, and his daughter Melissa. His son Cameron was getting married this summer, and Glen won’t get to see that.
Saskatoon Riversdale MLA Danielle Chartier was so distraught that at one point she broke into a coughing fit as she gave her remarks.
Ms. Chartier: —To the folks of Humboldt, to the families and friends of these players and team personnel who have lost so much, to all who have been touched by this horrible tragedy, including first responders and medical and support professionals, it is a long road ahead. As you’re on this journey of grief and healing, please just know you are not alone.
Saskatoon Willowgrove MLA Ken Cheveldayoff’s brother, Kevin Cheveldayoff, is general manager of the Winnipeg Jets, a team that gave a stirring tribute to the Broncos on Saturday night.
Hon. Mr. Cheveldayoff: —I was out of province when I heard the news of the tragic events of last Friday night. I was in Winnipeg where I had an opportunity to see the outpouring of support from outside of our borders. I attended the Winnipeg Jets-Chicago Blackhawks hockey game where a magnificent tribute took place nearly hours after the tragic event. The national anthems were sung with the players at centre ice interspersed with each other — one Jet, one Blackhawk, and the referees as well — standing in a circle. The chants of “Go Broncos Go.” It wasn’t about the game. It was about what hockey meant, what life meant to each and every individual. The game was televised across the country and each and every player had their name bar removed and the name Broncos for both teams put on.
Gene Makowsky could relate directly to the tragedy as a former member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders football club and as someone who has been on many a bus trip as an athlete.
Hon. Mr. Makowsky: —Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. Certainly with a heavy heart that I rise this afternoon to support the Premier’s motion, the condolence motion this afternoon.
I think the Leader of the Opposition mentioned that there’s just a few degrees of separation here in our great province of Saskatchewan and an event, a horrible event like this certainly reverberates. You hear over the weekend, you follow the news reports, and you know, you watch in horror the folks that were affected, the ones that lost their lives. And you know, you think of being in that situation of course, but you think about the coaches that had guided those folks
… I know though, that team was together. They did the old playoff tradition. Some teams get tattoos, I’ve heard. Some dye their hair. Some shave their hair. Some grow beards, etc. So this was a team, this was a team. And again I say, no place I think they’d rather be. They were enjoying life, Mr. Speaker. I think that’s what makes this situation so very hard, so very hard.
Battlefords MLA Herb Cox offered extended remarks of his own.
Mr. Cox: — Mr. Speaker, the North Stars have played in the SJHL since the early ’70s. And of course their players since that time have travelled thousands of miles in buses to arenas around this province including to Humboldt, as have many other teams, Mr. Speaker, at every level and of other sports, as has been mentioned here already.
Shandon Reichert, president of the North Stars sends this message, and I quote:
“We are devastated by this tragedy that occurred. Please know that you are in our hearts, our thoughts, and our prayers. We will support you in any way that we can. May God bless the entire Humboldt Bronco organization and their families. We are all Humboldt Broncos today.”
And Steven Nelson the vice-president and a former player with the North Stars wanted me to share this message, and he said:
“I offer my condolences to the entire Humboldt Broncos organization and all those affected by this tragedy. Our hockey family is grieving right now and our hearts go out to you. We hope that in this time, the memories and the support will help you heal the scars and make everyone stronger. Today, tomorrow, and always Humboldt will be in our hearts. We are all Humboldt strong.”
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of everyone in The Battlefords and in the constituency of Cut Knife-Turtleford and all of our northwest of our province, I extend our sincere condolences to all of the families and the billet families and all those who are close to this tragedy and have been affected. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of you as you face the daunting task of coping and healing and remembering the beautiful souls that you have lost.
