The April bus crash in Saskatchewan that killed 16 people associated with the Humboldt Broncos’ junior hockey team, including players, coaches, radio broadcaster Tyler Bieber and volunteer statistician Brody Hinz, sparked tributes and memorial awards from across the sports world. Since then, many of those who survived the crash but suffered major injuries are working to rebuild their lives, with notable stories like paralyzed player Ryan Straschnitzki taking up sledge hockey, and the team has also worked to rebuild, picking 10 up players from across the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in a dispersal draft in June. Now, the Broncos are set to to play their first game since the tragic crash Wednesday night, facing the Nipawin Hawks at home in their season opener, and that event will be broadcast live across both Canada (on TSN and CTV Saskatchewan) and the United States (a NHL Network simulcast of the TSN feed).
Pre-game coverage of this game begins at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Wednesday on both TSN and NHLN, with the game itself beginning at 8:30 p.m. Eastern and a post-game on-ice ceremony following. Here’s more from a TSN release:
An hour-long pre-game show gets underway on TSN at 5:30 p.m. CT / 7:30 p.m. ET, featuring stories and interviews. The home opener will be followed by an on-ice ceremony in tribute to all those affected.
Hosted by James Duthie, HUMBOLDT STRONG – HUMBOLDT BRONCOS SEASON OPENER features TSN’s acclaimed hockey broadcast team, including Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, with play-by-play from Chris Cuthbert and colour commentary from Ray Ferraro. SPORTSCENTRE Reporter Ryan Rishaug reports from rinkside, with contributions from Senior Hockey Reporter Frank Seravalli.
Including TSN Original features as well as a special encore of Tom Cochrane’s hit song Big League (For Humboldt), TSN’s pre-game coverage looks back at the April 6 tragedy, while also looking ahead to the future of the Humboldt Broncos and the community of Humboldt throughout the broadcast.
The TSN Original features group has been spending time with the families and in the community of Humboldt for a documentary that is set to air on CTV and TSN later this year.
With the game approaching, there have been plenty of thoughtful tributes to Humboldt from across the sports landscape. For example, several provinces over, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats joined the many who put a stick out in tribute to the lost Broncos earlier this year:
Outside the #Ticats lockerroom. Time passes, but you never really forget. #HumboldtStrong #CFL pic.twitter.com/QlLIr37thf
— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) September 12, 2018
And the Niagara Ice Dogs had their own tribute:
Our hearts 💛💚 are with the Humboldt Broncos tonight, as they play in their Home Opener.
We got our room game-ready 🏒, for the boys who will be the 7th man on the ice. #HumboldtStrong pic.twitter.com/ilXg1i8wAz
— Niagara IceDogs (@OHLIceDogs) September 12, 2018
16 sticks were also displayed outside the Humboldt arena’s front door:
Sixteen hockey sticks line up outside the front door at Elgar Peterson Arena ahead of tonight’s Humboldt Broncos home opener. pic.twitter.com/buueUcJSFn
— Ryan McKenna (@RyanBMcKenna) September 12, 2018
Meanwhile, two of the players who were injured in that crash will be playing for the Broncos again, and TSN’s Ryan Rishaug detailed their stories:
Five months after April's tragic bus crash, Derek Patter and Brayden Camrud return to the ice for the Humboldt Broncos to carry the torch for their community, teammates and families involved.
@TSNRyanRishaug shares their journey in '2 Roads to Humboldt' https://t.co/uhaWv2tUsJ pic.twitter.com/IHrsFiyXmv— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) September 11, 2018
Former Bronco and current St. Louis Blues’ radio analyst Kelly Chase detailed his own thoughts in a Players’ Tribune piece:
"We are all thinking about you.
We won’t forget.
We are all Broncos.”
Good luck with the season opener, @HumboldtBroncos.
From @Chasenpucks39. https://t.co/p37NKivYbs
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) September 12, 2018
And TSN broadcasters James Duthie and Chris Cuthbert shared their thoughts on calling this:
Game Day. pic.twitter.com/jkdLAmzW6l
— Chris Cuthbert (@CCtsn) September 12, 2018
Will be thinking of him tonight. pic.twitter.com/xV5SJra6Dm
— Chris Cuthbert (@CCtsn) September 12, 2018
It’s cool to see so many paying attention to this, and to see TSN and NHLN carrying this event for all those interested. Many thoughts from across North America and beyond will be with those in Humboldt Wednesday.