Shortly after learning about the Humboldt bus crash, an Olds Grizzlys netminder was making plans to get to Saskatchewan to support his former teammates.
Sam-Jaxon Visscher was a member of the Humboldt Broncos this season until January, when the St. Albert native was traded to the Olds Grizzlys.
Visscher was home alone on Friday night, April 6, checking his Twitter feed when he first learned about the accident.
He saw the playoff game between the Broncos and Nipawin Hawks had been cancelled and soon learned his former team had been involved in a tragic accident. He spent the rest of his night following the news with his mom.
Visscher said he was in Saskatchewan by Sunday night for a vigil and spent Monday and Tuesday visiting his friends and the families of the Broncos.
“When I was going to the hospital I wasn’t sure what I was going to feel, if I was going to cry or be happy to see the guys, and ultimately they were probably more positive than I was,” Visscher said.
Visscher said he has talked to all the surviving Broncos and the environment "was surprisingly pretty positive."
“The guys were in high spirits and a couple of guys were joking around. A bunch of them were up and moving,” Visscher said. “It meant a lot to see guys were making progress.”
The 19-year-old said he is still in shock and disbelief over the whole incident. Visccher added that seeing how strong the team is has really helped lift his spirits.
“They were fighting. They were all being warriors. There is pain there but they’re tough guys and they’re battling really hard,” Visscher said.
The goaltender said this tragedy has impacted communities across the country and that it is so powerful to see the worldwide support for the Broncos.
“It’s not just one place that has lost so much. It’s the community. It's everyone that has laced up skates,” Visscher said. "To see people from all over the place to love and come together and support, it’s moving.”
Visscher, who has returned to St. Albert, is planning on attending as many vigils and funeral services as he can to support his team.
“I just want the boys to know that I’m there and that I’m thinking about them and praying for them,” he said. “I really struggled for a long time thinking about what I could do to help and this is one of those ways.”
Visscher said the Broncos were a very close-knit group of men who would always find the time to spend together.
Visscher said he will always remember the Broncos.
“They worked so hard and dreamed so big and they loved this game. We have to remember them for what amazing people they were too. They weren’t just hockey players. These were men and women and these guys are just so special.”
-- Henderson writes for the St. Albert Gazette
