Tom Cochrane does a re-write of “Big League” in honour of the fatalities in the Humboldt crash. Must be dusty in here; got something in my eye.
It must be dusty in here indeed. Thank you for sharing that.
Hugs to you and yours. 
{{{{{{{Crazy Canuck}}}}}}
Big internet hug!
Crazy Canuck, I’m sorry for your loss. I hope you can feel the hug I’m sending your way.
Another death. The young woman who was a trainer for the team has died.
I was at a local sports bar yesterday for the Jays game. (Cat, you can likely guess which one.) The owner had put a couple of sticks outside the door of the sports bar.
The Caps will be donating the proceeds of tonight’s in-game 50-50 raffle to the Broncos. Not sure is this will be via Go Fund Me or direct.
But, even if they didn’t, they do a lot of charity work - as I suspect all of the teams do - and I see no benefit in nitpicking who helps who. There is plenty of need and plenty of people helping where they can.
Stories about the boys are coming out: the quick and the dead, to use the phrase from the BCP.
Here’s one about Ryan Straschnitzki, the fellow whose back was broken and likely won’t walk again. Interview with him about the crash itself and the immediate aftermath.
There’s also an embedded video of the Mayor of Humboldt speaking at the vigil last Saturday night. Very low-key, but emotions just bubbling beneath the surface.
I said in one earlier post that we would probably see this kid in the Paralympics. That’s now his goal: “Paralysed from Saskatchewan bus crash, Ryan Straschnitzki plots return to ice.”
And Paralympians are volunteering to help:
And here’s a story from Uganda, of little Ugandan boys and girls sending messages of “Humboldt Strong”.
Turns out that a number of hockey teams in Canada have formed a charity where teams and players pay for leg and foot surgeries for kids in Africa. They make the kids honourary team members and send them jerseys and support.
And the kids are now sending back messages of support.
“13 year old Ugandan sends love to Broncos, following life-changing surgery.”
Funeral yesterday for the bus driver, Glen Doerksen, at his home town of Carrot River. Media were asked not to attend the service itself.
From outside the hall, they report that it was standing room only. Two Mounties in red serge attended. Many wore hockey jerseys. After the service, family exited carrying an urn and photo of Mr Doerksen and left.
Some stories about the youngest one who died, Adam Herold, whose funeral was yesterday, the day after what would have been his 17th birthday.
He was a farm kid from the little town of Montmartre, near Regina. He loved snowmobiling, so on Thursday his family had a snowmobile and outdoor cook-out, inviting friends and family.
His father speaks about him in the article: " ‘I lost my best friend’: Family looks to celebrate birthday of youngest Humboldt crash victim."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/adam-herold-obituary-humboldt-broncos-1.4615949
Article about funeral and people reminiscing:
Photos of the outdoor birthday wake:
Thanks for these, Cat!
Article about Brody Hinz, the stats guy. His dad died when he was a kid and he had trouble in school, but Big Brothers helped and he’d just started to shine.
Active as a volunteer in the community.
He’d been accepted by University of Regina for the fall, with scholarships.
Humboldt Broncos’ statistician Brody Hinz remembered for kindness, ‘generous spirit’.
Northern Piper, thank you for all of the information and updates you’ve been giving about this sad event. You’ve not only helped keep us informed, but you’ve done it with a sense of compassion too.
I was held up today while out driving around for the funeral procession for Logan Boulet - it made me tear up once again. It was something to see - the funeral procession was holding up traffic in a 90 kph zone, but no one wanted to pass them and be disrespectful (and these are Lethbridge drivers, who with no exaggeration, are some of the worst drivers I’ve ever seen in my life). I don’t know how this is affecting people in Eastern Canada, but here in the prairies, it feels like we’ve all lost a family member.
That is really good of them. The townspeople at Humboldt and area have commented many times that they have been amazed at the outpouring of support from all over.
Apparently six different people have benefitted from Logan Boulet signing his organ donation card as soon as he turned 21.