Looking back at the Humboldt Broncos five years later
Today is April 6th, which marks five years since the devastating Humboldt Broncos bus crash that claimed the lives of sixteen people. Frank Seravalli and Mike McKenna share their thoughts on the tragedy five years out.
Frank Seravalli: Today is the five-year anniversary of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. I’m holding a ribbon in my hands, this was the ribbon we wore when we went back to Humboldt for their first game back. Jeez, so many emotions come over me today. Can’t believe it’s been five years. I was reflecting last night before going to bed and thinking about how so many families were together for the very last time and had no idea what would be coming their way on a clear blue sky day in Saskatchewan.
Just to think of all the lives that were changed, all the lives that were lost and how our world and their world specifically would never be the same again. I can’t even fathom it, I still can’t wrap my head around it or come to grips with it even today. I spent a week in Humboldt in the days immediately following the accident and it left a profound impact on me and my life, emotional connections that still remain there and I just think of all the people you know that we’re lucky enough to survive the crash and who’s lives have also been changed in big ways.
I was at the Denver Airport a few weeks back when I was coming back from the Jasper Pond hockey tournament and I ran into Tyler Smith, who was on the bus, he was there with a few of his Broncos teammates. I was there eating Chic-Fil-A in the Denver International Aiport and there they were, it was great to see those guys and glad to see they’re all managing and doing well. Just thinking of everyone on Humboldt today, just so many who have been around and affected by this.
Mike McKenna: You think back to being an active player at that time and I actually have my Dallas Stars mask here and you can see the Humboldt Broncos sticker we all put on our helmets that season. It started this thing, for reasons I wish never happened, but when something bad happens in hockey or someone’s lost we put sticks out.
That was the first time I had kind of seen that, sticks out for Humboldt. It’s kind of become a rallying cry from hockey people in general to remember people and what’s happened previously. Just thinking about it here, it leaves a hole in my heart. Especially as players, we were all one step away Frank, we all knew someone who was tied to that team very closely right?
Frank Seravalli: We just talked about how many hours you spent riding the bus and how it can be anyone at any time and it’s just something you take for granted, you get on the bus and just arrive and then you get off the bus.
Mike McKenna: That’s the biggest fear on the bus man. These things have happened. There was the one with Swift Current, and one with the Albany River Rats that had players very seriously injured only a decade and a half ago. It scares you, it’s part of what we did growing up playing hockey, and it’s just a reminder five years out that we won’t forget that team in any way and like you say, though, for you to be able to run into players in Denver is pretty cool. Definitely always remembered.
Frank Seravalli: Five years feels like in some ways the blink of an eye and in some ways, it feels like a hundred. Our thoughts are with everyone in Humboldt today.
You can watch the full episode here…