Remembering The Humboldt Broncos
I didn’t know any of the victims involved in the horrific Humboldt Broncos bus crash.
I didn’t know any of the families or friends.
But my heart was broken upon receiving the news — and only broke more as the details emerged.
These were kids on their way to do what they loved to do. They got on the bus with their teammates and coaches, like they did so many times before, to travel to their upcoming game.
Only this time, the outcome was tragically different.
Being a lifelong hockey fan and having family members from Canada who have played hockey for as long I can remember, including my 11-year-old cousin who without a doubt has a future in this sport, this story really hit me.
When you’re an athlete, your teammates become your family because a lot of your time is spent with them.
But through the wake of his terrible tragedy, I saw something beautiful happen: I saw the hockey world come together.
Fans, teams and players from all over took to social media to pay their respects, contribute to the GoFundMe and take part of the #SticksOutForHumboldt movement.
If the Broncos are playing, Tyler Bieber will want to call the game.#SticksOutForHumboldt pic.twitter.com/nQWWRDGZti
— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) April 10, 2018
Thought maybe they could use a goalie stick or two…#HumboldtStrong #SticksOutForHumboldt pic.twitter.com/6eVkDeaiJy
— Cam Talbot (@ctalbot33) April 10, 2018
This hashtag. All the photos. All over North America, some in Europe. Heartbreaking & deeply moving. #SticksOutForHumboldt https://t.co/jvUxaoMQ2B
— Kat Nicholson 🇨🇦🤜🤛🇺🇸 (@KatSNicholson) April 9, 2018
People on Twitter would leave their hockey sticks outside as a sign of respect for the fallen victims. And for those who didn’t have sticks, they would improvise.
No stick to leave out, so I improvised. #SticksOutForHumboldt #HumboldtStrong pic.twitter.com/YrT6pVIitu
— 🧘🏻♀️ Elle x🐧x🍁:(🛢 (@EastSideElle) April 10, 2018
The NHL had a moment of silence before their games to honor the victims.
It was just a beautiful thing to see the hockey world come together during a tragic time.
Sports unify people. They have a power to them that brings everyone together during a time of need. To see people around the world, hockey and non-hockey fans alike, unify and do their part, is a beautiful thing.
The power of social media is that people from all over the world can pay their respects to the ones hurting in some way, shape or form. It keeps the spirits of the fallen alive and goes to show just how many people are behind the families and friends of the victims.
The world of hockey got a little dimmer with the loss of those 15 people — but with the power of social media, the brightness shines on, and so does the memory of the ones lost in the crash.
#SticksOutForHumboldt
-Lauren Campbell (@lalalalaurrrren)