By Scott Roblin

Broncos bus crash a nightmare scenario for local hockey parents

Apr 9, 2018 | 6:52 PM

BROOKS, AB – It was deafening silence at the Centennial Regional Arena on Sunday as the Brooks Bandits paid tribute to their fallen brothers on the Humboldt Broncos.

The team sported green stick tape during warmups and raised close to $10,000 in donations at the front entrance to support victims and their families.

Tom Bast’s son Luke is a rookie defenceman on the Bandits and said the past few days have been very difficult as a hockey parent.

“I can’t imagine me as a parent burying my son,” said Bast. “So, it’s going to be a long road for these families and I know they’re going to be supported very, very well.”

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The Broncos tragedy is striking a nerve with hockey moms and hockey dads of all backgrounds across Canada.

Out in Irvine on Saturday, B.J. Lang watched his son Kian suit up on defence for the Medicine Hat Novice Nationals.

Lang said it’s scary knowing how quickly life can change in an instant.

“It could been easily one of us, anybody that played minor hockey,” said Lang. “It could easily have been anybody, anytime we’re on the road… driving out to this game out here it could happen.”

Along with providing donations, Medicine Hat residents are finding another way to give back to the Humboldt community.

Locals like Troy Sandau and Hailey Bolig are taking part in a new online initiative, leaving hockey sticks on their front porch in memory of the 15 lives lost in Saskatchewan.

“It’s something so little to support and so easy,” said Sandau. “Every little fella can do it, they can put their little mini-stick out and it’s just something where they feel they’re being supportive.”

“I just want to let the families and people affected know that I’m here and supporting them,” said Bolig. “And, all us hockey people are with them, we’re on their side.”

Both Sandau and Bolig said they’re hoping to keep their sticks outside for the next few nights as well.

It’s this kind of gesture that’s providing comfort to hockey parents like Bast, who let go so that their kids can pursue the sport they love.

“We entrust the hockey club that he’s there [with],” he said. “And I just hope that no other hockey team will ever encounter this accident that Humboldt has encountered.”

As for donations, a Go Fund Me page created on Friday night has raised over $6.3 million for the Broncos organization and their families.