By Scott Roblin

Medicine Hat community encouraged to share grief after Broncos crash

Apr 10, 2018 | 5:21 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – From coast to coast, the Humboldt Broncos fatal bus crash is striking a chord with people of all ages and backgrounds.

Strangers across Canada are sharing in their collective grief for the lives lost, with the tragedy bringing back memories for one local team.

Megan Kondor was a rising player with the Medicine Hat College Rattlers women’s basketball team in February of 2015, when she was killed in a crash near Vauxhall.

It was a major blow to the program, but Manager of Sport and Wellness Terry Ballard said players were able to find comfort in one another.

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“There was immediate action and the group was together, led by head coach Jason McLester at that time,” said Ballard. “They were able to have an avenue to discuss, talk, meet, and grieve right away. And, I think that really helped them.”

Emotions of sadness, anger, and confusion aren’t limited to sports teams however, as the entire nation is grieving the loss of 15 members of the Humboldt Broncos organization.

Register psychologist Dr. Linda Hancock said it’s alright to feel lost, even if you don’t share a direct connection with the team.

“I think until we actually have some healing in our lives, we do feel helpless,” said Hancock. “But, there’s always help to help us through those times and that’s where it’s important to reach out to other people.”

On Monday, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League announced the creation of a SJHL Assistance Program to raise funds for mental health assistance for the league’s players.

Since the crash, Kids Help Phone has seen a spike in young people reaching out to talk about their feelings.

In fact there’s been so much traffic, that according to Vice President of Counselling Services and Programs Alisa Simon said they’ve expanded a Manitoba-based pilot program that allows kids and teens to receive support through text messages.

“We have been seeing a lot of young people in both Saskatchewan and Alberta reaching out to the texting service,” said Simon. “Sometimes they reach out once and sometimes they’ll reach out many, many times, and that’s okay too.”

Young people in Alberta are now able to text SUPPORT to 686868 to reach one of Kids Help Phone’s volunteer responders.

Hancock added it’s vital not to keep these emotions bottle up and to ask for help if you’re struggling.

“We tend to believe that we should be big boys on hockey teams and not cry, and that’s not really very human,” she said. “That’s not very realistic.”

With heavy hearts, the Rattlers continue to carry on Megan’s memory over two years since her death.

While competing at the 2018 CCAA National Championships in Sackville, New Brunswick last month, Megan’s number six jersey was on full display.

“Megan would have been part of that group and there was some recognition of her at the national championship, that the girls that remember her were still thinking of her at that time,” he said. “So, I think all of those things helped throughout the years.”

Receiving hundreds of messages following news of Megan’s death, Ballard said community support helped the program and the school through some of their darkest hours.

“Sometimes it’s just words that they need to hear that other people are thinking about them.”