Over the last two decades, Mark Cheyne laid awake many a night wondering if his hockey teams would arrive home safely from a road trip.
So when the news came of last Friday鈥檚 bus crash in Saskatchewan involving the Humboldt Broncos, the co-owner of the West 琉璃神社 Warriors felt both a sense of shock and helplessness.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 the worst nightmare for anybody involved in this game,鈥� said Cheyne, who grew up in rural Saskatchewan. 鈥淵ou just hope you don鈥檛 get the call like the one the people got in Humboldt.
鈥淭here have been a lot of what ifs and close calls over the years for our teams鈥his is just devastating,鈥� added Cheyne. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 know what to think, how to react, it鈥檚 just a helpless feeling. Your heart goes out to the families and everyone involved.鈥�
Cheyne will be among those standing in solidarity with the victim鈥檚 families and the Broncos鈥� organization Thursday when the Warriors host a candlelight vigil beginning at 6 p.m. at Royal LePage Place. People are asked to wear the jerseys of their favourite team.
Like Cheyne and many others across the hockey world, the tragedy hit far too close to home for Warriors鈥� head coach and GM Rylan Ferster.
Ferster was not only born and raised in the prairie province, he played with the Broncos as a 16-year-old rookie during the 1985-86 season.
Ferster also played three years with the Nipawin Hawks, the team the Broncos were travelling to play in an SJHL playoff game when their bus collided with a truck, killing 15 of the 29 people on board.
鈥淚鈥檝e been on that road many times, I know exactly where it happened,鈥� said Ferster, who was born in nearby Prince Albert, Sask. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been tough. I can鈥檛 imagine what it鈥檚 like for people back home. I know how I feel two provinces away and it鈥檚 just devestating.
鈥淚鈥檝e talked to a lot of people back home and they鈥檙e reeling, some of them can鈥檛 even talk about it,鈥� Ferster said Sunday. 鈥淚t鈥檚 horrific on so many levels.鈥�
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VIDEO: Athletes, teams honour victims of Humboldt Broncos deadly bus crash
琉璃神社 supports Humboldt Broncos in time of tragedy
Ferster still travels thousands of kilometres every season on a team bus as a head coach in the BCHL. Ferster said for anyone who has ever been associated with a junior hockey team, the shocking reality is difficult to comprehend.
鈥淚t鈥檚 almost like the bus is supposed to be a safe haven, you feel safe when you get on, kind of like an extension of the dressing room,鈥� Ferster said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a place where bonds form between people and teammates, where memories are made鈥unior hockey should be the best times of their lives.
鈥淭o have this happen is beyond belief.鈥�
Still, in the face of the tragedy, Ferster fully expects the people of Saskatchewan and the hockey community at large will pull together and provide support for those in their time of need.
鈥淭here are so many people connected to junior hockey, something like this really brings people together,鈥� said Ferster. 鈥淭o lose 15 people who were all so tight, for them to pass away at once is beyond words.
鈥淚 grew up in Saskatchewan and I know how wonderful and supportive the people are,鈥� he added. 鈥淭hey鈥檒l pick everyone up and get each other through this.鈥�
Broncos honoured at Prospera Place
琉璃神社 residents will have an opportunity to stand in solidarity with Humboldt, Saskatchewan and the Broncos team Thursday afternoon at Prospera Place.
Springfield Funeral Home has arranged an event where the public can gather for a minute of silence and a group photograph.
鈥淲e want to be an agent for some comfort and healing for the people of our community and those of Humboldt in the wake of this tragic accident,鈥� said Rod Attwell, general manager of Springfield Funeral Home.
鈥淭he photograph will be taken with hands linked and raised inspired by the photograph of the three hospitalized Bronco team members,鈥� reads the release from the funeral home. 鈥淭he photograph will be sent to the Bronco鈥檚 team and the city of Humboldt. Everyone is invited to attend.鈥�
Those who attend are being asked to wear the Broncos colours of green and yellow or if a hockey jersey.
The event begins at 4:15 p.m. in the Prospera Place West Parking Lot. Parking is available at Prospera Place from 3:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
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