Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League proceeds with playoffs after tragic bus crash

The Hawks and Estevan Bruins will play for the league’s championship trophy, the Canalta Cup, in a best-of-seven series starting Saturday in Nipawin.

“With Humboldt being very positive about continuing the season, I think that made the decision going forward a lot easier,” Chow told The Canadian Press.

The Hawks and Bruins will wear stickers on their helmets in the final series in honour of the Broncos, Chow said.

Humboldt’s team president was adamant the playoffs should continue.

“That love of hockey can take us a long way in terms of helping us through the healing process,” Kevin Garinger said. “Hockey is healing.”

The father of Broncos defenceman Ryan Straschnitzki, who was badly injured in the crash, said his son feels the same way.

“He said, ‘You know what, you guys got to continue. We’re athletes. We don’t stop. We carry on. Let’s go. Let’s play,’” Tom Straschnitzki said.

The Hawks were up 3-1 in their best-of-seven semifinal against the Broncos when the crash occurred Friday. Humboldt had lost 6-5 in triple overtime at home two days earlier.

Estevan closed out its semifinal series Friday against the Battlefords North Stars. The Bruins were awaiting a decision on whether they would play for a championship this season or not.

“To me, if you don’t play there’s a giant, gaping open wound,” Bruins coach and general manager Chris Lewgood said.

“The people that lost their lives did so doing what they love to do. I have no doubt the majority of them would want these guys to carry on and do so at the best of their ability. It’s going to be a tragedy whether we continue or not. We can’t fix anything by not playing hockey.

“If I were the coach that was killed in that accident, I would want to see those guys move on and make the most of their opportunity to move forward and make the best of a really bad situation.”

Despite the devastation to the Broncos organization, Garinger wants Humboldt to ice a team in the SJHL in 2018-19.

“We’re going to continue right now to support our families and our loved ones,” he said. “It’s imperative right now that our energies are focused there.

“We know that hockey is critical for our Humboldt Broncos family. We know that moving forward, it will take time but we fully expect that the Humboldt Broncos organization will be part of the 2018-19 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League schedule.”

The junior ‘A’ SJHL is a league of players between the ages of 16 and 20.

Alumni who played in the NHL this season include Derek Dorsett (Vancouver), Chris Kunitz (Tampa Bay) and Jaden Schwartz (St. Louis).

The Saskatchewan Hockey Association has cancelled a bantam and midget SaskFirst Tournament this weekend in Regina, where 160 players would have gathered to showcase their skills for SJHL and Western Hockey League scouts.

The SHA said on its website the association wants players and families close to those impacted to be able to attend services.

“We sincerely hope that everyone involved understands the decision we have made and we ask that you keep the individuals from the Humboldt Broncos and the families in your thoughts and prayers,” SHA general manager Kelly McClintock said in the statement.

— Colette Derworiz contributed to this story.

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version had 14 injured.

by Canadian Press

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Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League proceeds with playoffs after tragic bus crash

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