Jean-Yves Mailloux with the box of 30 rings he made for the Humboldt Broncos, before presenting them to the team on Wednesday. (Submitted photo/Chantal Edward Mailloux)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Rings of honour

Prince Albert man makes and donates 30 rings to Humboldt Broncos

Apr 7, 2022 | 11:38 AM

Like many, Jean-Yves Mailloux picked up a new thing to do while he was forced to stay at home for most of the pandemic. But instead of tie-dying shirts or learning how to make sourdough bread, Mailloux decided to pay tribute to the Humboldt Broncos.

Now retired after a long career in the oil and gas industry, Mailloux put his welding skills to good use and made 30 rings of honour in a decorative box for the Broncos to display in their honourary shrine. Mailloux presented the rings to the Broncos on Wednesday, the fourth anniversary of the team’s tragic bus crash that killed 16 of its players and staff.

“To lose that many people and to cripple that many at one time, it’s unheard of,” Mailloux said. “Every time you open your cell phone, you see it. What’s happening with the world. When I saw that on T.V., I couldn’t believe what I saw there. It looked like we were coming into a warzone, you know.”

In the box are 30 rings, 29 of which to honour each of the Broncos and the team staff that were on the bus at the time of the crash. The other ring in the top left corner of the box features the Star of Life, to pay tribute to all the emergency medical services and first responders that reported to the site and gave medical treatment.

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“You have to be special and very, very dedicated people to go to a scene like that,” Mailloux said. “I’ve had occasions where I’ve used the ambulance and they are awesome people. They look after you so well, and that was my way to say thanks to them.”

The box of 30 rings Jean-Yves Mailloux made for the Humboldt Broncos. (Submitted photo/Chantal Edward Mailloux)

Mailloux said this was the first project he had ever done. He only made a few rings for himself and close friends in the 1970s and 80s. Mailloux only started making rings again in recent years after his grandchildren showed an interest.

“My grandson asked me to make a hole in a 25-cent piece. I asked him ‘what do you want to do with that?’ and he said ‘I want to make myself a ring.’ Well, I said, ‘papa will make you a ring.’ That’s just a few years ago. Then I made the ring and holy, everybody wants a ring. All my grandkids, so I made them all rings,” Mailloux said.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW