Yesterday evening a collision involving a semi-truck and the Humboldt Broncos team bus occurred on Highway 35 in Saskatchewan.
Police have confirmed 14 fatalities and 15 injured. Three of the injured are in critical condition.
Former North Peace Navigators coach Darcy Haugan is among those who have passed away last night. Darcy was born and raised in Peace River, and prior to becoming coach of the Humboldt Broncos in 2015, he was coach and general manager for many years of the North Peace Navigators in our own junior league, the NWJHL. Darcy leaves behind his wife Christina, and their two sons, Carson and Jackson.
The President of the North Peace Navigators, Albert Cooper, released a statement on the tragedy, offering his most sincere condolences to Darcy’s family.
“On behalf of the North Peace Navigators Board, Coaching staff, Players, Volunteers, and fans we want to express our most sincere condolences to Christina, her boys Carson and Jackson and Darcy’s parents Leroy and Shirley Haugan on the tragic death of Darcy,” said Cooper.
Cooper says Darcy was a critical part of their team, and it was Darcy he went to when he first had the idea of bringing Jr. Hockey to Peace River.
“Darcy helped me build the program, and hire Coaches to get us started. Our goal was quite simply to build an exceptional program that focused on helping to develop young men on and off the ice that would be role models for the young kids in our Community! Our record over the years is a clear result of Darcy’s work.”
Cooper notes that both Christina and Darcy’s parents worked tirelessly to help the team by cooking meals, working as volunteers, and even billeting players.
“We are all so proud of Darcy, his faith, his love for his family, and his knowledge and love of the game has touched all of us. His contribution to the Navs cannot be described in words. He changed lives of young men that have been part of the team, and his impact on our community cannot be measured! Our prayers go out for all those affected by this tragedy,” said Cooper.
A release was posted late Friday night on the Humboldt Broncos website announcing the news. In the release, Broncos President Kevin Garinger made the following statement:
“Our thoughts and prayers are extended to the families of our staff and athletes as well as to all who have been impacted by this horrible tragedy. Our Broncos family is in shock as we try to come to grips with our incredible loss.”
The Mayor of Humboldt, Rob Muench, said a crisis counselling centre has been set up at the Humboldt Uniplex Convention Centre. Muench says they’re asking anyone who may need to talk to somebody, or be with others, to come to the centre for support from the community.
“The community has been hit very hard. You know, when you have a number of young hockey players involved in a serious accident like this, it’s a very, very sad day for our city,” said Muench.
Posts offering support and kind words are being shared all over social media, including tweets from community members, Canadian politicians, hockey players, and more.
A GofundMe campaign has been started, and as of 1:15 P.M. today, has already raised over $1,000,000.
-JD
