Fifteen people were killed and 14 others injured in a horrific crash involving the Humboldt Broncos hockey team. Here is what we know so far about those who died:
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Tyler Bieber:
Bieber, 29, worked for Humboldt radio station CHBO and often travelled with the team as its play-by-play radio announcer.
Steven Wilson, a co-worker in Weyburn, Sask., said it was Bieber’s first season announcing for the team. He also covered morning news.
“He definitely had a natural talent,” said Wilson. “He was just passionate about sports.”
Wilson said he filled in a few times for Bieber because he was also busy coaching the Humboldt high school’s basketball and football teams.
“Having been with Golden West since the launch of Bolt FM in news and on-air, Tyler was a shining example of what it means to serve a community,” Lyndon Frieson, president of Golden West Radio, said in a statement posted on the station’s website.
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Logan Boulet:
The 21-year-old defenceman was from Lethbridge, Alta.
He was on life support after the crash until his organs could be donated.
“Logan had made it known, and very clear to his family, that he had signed his organ donor card when he turned 21 just a few weeks ago,” Boulet’s godfather, Neil Langevin, posted in a statement on Facebook on behalf of the family.
“Logan’s strong heart continues to beat,” he said. “All counted, six people will receive the gift of life from Logan. … His other organs will be donated to science as he requested.
“These actions alone give voice to the selfless and benevolent nature Logan possessed in life.”
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Mark Cross:
The assistant coach was from Strasbourg, Sask., where he was named most valuable player last year while playing with the Maroons in the Highway Hockey League.
“I can honestly say I didn’t know a more kind-hearted, generous, caring and overall nice person,” cousin Graeme Cross said in an online tribute.
“Mark was one of those people that just made you feel safe and brought a special spark when you were in his presence.”
Assistant coach Chris Beaudry said Cross, 27, joined the Broncos’ staff last year and was one of the happiest people he’s ever met.
“His first game, we found a tin of mints and ever since then it’s been alternating back and forth, buying mints for each other and sharing it as a joke. We’d end up going through a whole tin every game,” said Beaudry.
“He was a beautiful guy to be around.”
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Glen Doerksen:
Doerksen, 59, is described by his employer, Charlie’s Charters, in a Facebook post as an “outstanding friend, husband, and father.”
“In talking to him, he spoke at length of his time in rinks with his own family and now how much he enjoyed being able to take and watch other teams from minor, to senior to SJHL to their hockey games,” the Kinistino Tigers wrote of Doersken, who drove their team to and from playoff games.
Police say he’s from Carrot River, Sask.
“We will never forget the smile on your face as we left Allan after winning the Championship and got you to give ‘two honks for the Cup.’ Tonight Glen, we give two honks for you. Rest easy, Sir.”
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Darcy Haugan:
The president of the Humboldt Broncos, Kevin Garinger, said Haugan was an incredible coach who often talked about his vision for the team.
“The Humboldt Broncos were about — not building hockey players — but creating amazing young men. And that’s what we had in our organization, amazing young men,” said Garinger.
“That was Darcy’s belief and through that they would ultimately become great hockey players too.”
Before becoming a coach, the 42-year old played junior hockey in the league in the 1990s.
Steven Wilson, a radio play-by-play announcer in Weyburn, Sask., called Haugan “the classiest guy” in the league who always had time to chat.
He said the last time he saw Haugan, the coach was playing video games in his office with one of his two young sons.
“He was very dedicated to his family and at the same time he was a hockey guy.”
Wilson said Haugan’s wife, Christina George-Haugan, worked as the team’s office manager.
“He will always be a great man in our hearts,” Haugan’s sister posted on Twitter under the name Debbie Jayne. “The tears just keep coming.”
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Adam Herold:
The youngest member of the team, Herold would have turned 17 this week.
He was also a new member of the team. Up until a few weeks ago, Herold was captain of the Regina Pat Canadians, manager John Smith said. But when the Regina team’s season wrapped up, Herold was sent to join the Broncos for their playoff round.
“He was a wonderful young man. Never afraid to help his teammates. Always there for them. Good, typical Saskatchewan farm boy. Always load the bus, unload the bus, never afraid to roll up his sleeves and get work done,” Smith said.
Smith said Herold is survived by his mom, dad and an older sister. He was from Montmartre, Sask.
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Brody Hinz:
The 18-year-old Hinz had recently started tallying the Broncos’ numbers for Humboldt radio station CHBO.
“Brody had recently joined our Golden West family, mentored by Tyler and the Bolt FM team,” said company president Lyndon Frieson.
“Tragedy has hit our community and it reaches into every corner of life in Humboldt.”
Another company statement described Hinz as an intern still in high school.
The night of the crash marked a double tragedy for the family. A relative said on Facebook that another family member lost a baby boy in Humboldt hospital shortly after he was born.
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Logan Hunter:
Hunter’s death was confirmed by his former team, the St. Albert Raiders in his Alberta hometown.
The organization’s president, Kevin Porter, said he heard the news from Hunter’s mother.
“He always had a smile on his face,” said Porter, who described Hunter as a “smart kid and a great hockey player” with a “great sense of humour.”
He was an 18-year old forward with the Broncos.
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Jacob Leicht:
The 19-year-old, a forward with his hometown Broncos, is being remembered for his contagious laugh and bright smile.
A family member posted on Facebook that her heart is broken.
“Your laughter is so contagious and you had a smile that lit up any room,” Cassidy Tolley wrote in her public post.
She says he wasn’t just family, but one of her favourite people and someone she could count on any time of day.
Leicht was in his first season with the team.
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Conner Lukan:
Conner Lukan, 21, of Slave Lake played with the midget St. Albert Raiders and Spruce Grove Saints in the Alberta Junior Hockey League before joining the Broncos last year.
The Raiders announced Lukan’s death on Twitter, along with three other alumni: Stephen Wack, Jaxon Joseph and Logan Hunter.
“One of the best hockey players and an even greater guy off the ice,” Tyson Chizma wrote on Twitter.
“I’ve known Conner for several years, playing against him throughout the majority of my minor hockey career and trying out for a handful of teams with him. I always looked up to him as a role model.”
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Jaxon Joseph:
The Edmonton native’s death was confirmed by the Surrey Eagles, his former team in the British Columbia Hockey League.
The Broncos website says Joseph, 20, was among the leading scorers in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoffs, playing on a line with Logan Schatz, another player who lost his life in the crash.
In a profile published on the team’s website in January, Schatz paid tribute to Joseph and fellow linemate Conner Lukan.
“I’ve really clicked with Joseph and Lukan. I can’t say enough good things about them,” Schatz said.
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Logan Schatz:
The team captain had played for the Broncos for just over four years and had served as team captain for the past 2 1/2 years, his father Kelly Schatz said.
The native of Allan, Sask., played centre and was named the league’s player of the month in February after earning points in eight of nine games. He was 20 years old.
Kelly Schatz said his family is seeking solace in one another.
“It’s hard,” he said. “I’ve got four other kids and they’re here, which is nice.”
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Evan Thomas:
Thomas, from Saskatoon, was the “kind of kid any dad would be proud to call his” own, said his father, Scott.
“He was a self-driven, motivated, retrospective, quiet, confident and very self-assured young man.”
It was the 18-year-old’s first season as a forward with the Humboldt Broncos.
His dad says he was an athlete, playing both hockey and baseball, and a strong student.
“He liked sports, but at times I think he tolerated sports so he could be a teammate,” said Thomas in an interview. “He just loved being a teammate. He loved his teammates and I think that was more important to him than the actual sport he was playing.
“He loved those boys. He really loved those boys.”
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Parker Tobin:
Tobin, 18, of Stony Plain, Alta., was the last of the deceased to be identified.
This was the goalie’s first season with the Broncos after being traded from the Spruce Grove Saints. Before that, he was with the Drayton Valley Thunder.
“Parker was a fine young man who loved hockey and played with passion,” the Thunder posted on its website. “He was a team player, a stand-up guy and an inspiration to his team mates.”
“Heaven got its newest goalie,” friend Kael Maltais wrote on Twitter.
“Had the honour to meet Parker reffing him up the years in Stony Plain. No matter if he was the backup or in the cage, I would always joke around with him. He was such a nice kid.”
The Stony Plain Flyers said Tobin also spent two years as their game announcer.
“May you never be forgotten,” the team said in an online post.
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Stephen Wack:
The towering 21-year-old defenceman from St. Albert, Alta., had played with the Broncos for two seasons.
Alicia Wack said her cousin made the best gingerbread houses and “absolutely lived and breathed hockey.”
“Stephen has always been an amazing person, son, big brother, and cousin. He is one of the most adventurous, ambitious, and loving people that I have ever been blessed to know,” she said in a Facebook post.
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The Canadian Press
