Fatalities confirmed in SJHL team bus collision near Nipawin

Mayor of Humboldt Rob Muench said he and others went down to the Uniplex soon after they heard the news. He said many people were already at the rink, which is now a mobile crisis centre.

“They were just sitting there looking at the empty ice,” he said. “It has been a really sad evening here. A number of community members are here. We are trying to support each other. It has been a very sad day.”

He said the community is very tightly knit and that the team has always been a large part of the community.

“Those guys were very entertaining to watch. It is going to be kind of tough to go forward,” he said.

Darren Opp, president of the Hawks, said a semi T-boned the players’ bus that was coming to play against their team.

“It’s a horrible accident, my God,” he said. “It’s very, very bad.” Opp said the coaching staff and players from the Hawks are waiting to help.

“They are sitting in the church just waiting to hear any good news,” he said. Pastor Jordan Gadsby at the Apostolic Church in Nipawin said more than a hundred people have gathered at the church — including parents and grandparents of the players who were on the bus.

“Lots of them are waiting for information,” he said. “Some of the families have gotten information and have gone to be with their kids. Some of them are waiting to hear if their kids are alive.”

Gadsby said they know there are multiple fatalities, but they haven’t heard how many.

The chairman of the board for the league was also awaiting more official details. “We’re just waiting to hear,” said Rick Shultz. “We just know there has been an accident. “It’s not very good.”

The RCMP provided an update to media in Regina.

The collision occurred on Highway 35, approximately 30 kilometres North of Tisdale near the junction of Highway 335.

paNOW’s Jeff D’Andrea was at the scene. He said emergency crews are keeping the area very secure. “I have never seen so many emergency vehicles in such a close proximity before,” he said.

D’Andrea has covered hockey in and around Prince Albert for over six years and knows a number of names on the roster who could have been on the bus.

“You look through the roster and you just kind of think, I don’t know, it is not a good thing to look at or imagine,” he said.

He also stopped by the church where families were gathering. He said there was a strong sense of support for one another.

“The organizers painted the picture that everyone was coming together and looking for answers and looking for peace as well,” he added.

Sheldon Kennedy lost four teammates in the Swift Current Broncos bus crash in 1986. He said as a kid, he underestimated the impact of a tragic accident like this and how it can impact a community, but he does now.

“I was chatting with some teammates tonight that were on the bus. I think that this brought up some memories for us,” he said. “I think that the scars won’t ever go away.”

Traffic is expected to be blocked or restricted for several hours and drivers can expect lengthy delays. Drivers are asked to avoid the area.

STARS Air Ambulance from Saskatoon and Regina were dispatched to a call in the area around 5:30 p.m.

RCMP have requested family members gather at the Nipawin Apostolic Church located at 109 Fourth Ave. East.

– With files from the Canadian Press, 650 CKOM, Jeff D’Andrea

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow

by paNOW Staff

Fatalities confirmed in SJHL team bus collision near Nipawin

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