On Friday, tragedy struck when the Humboldt Broncos were involved in a fatal collision with a transport truck. The crash left 15 members of the Humboldt community dead. Tributes poured in from across the league, and the wider hockey community, as they all came together to grieve the loss.
#PutYourSticksOut, a tribute started as a text message between TSN play-by-play announcer Brian Munz and his friend, has now spread across the world and is continuing to grow.
“Leaving it out on the porch tonight,” the message to Munz said, which followed a photo of a hockey stick. “The boys might need it… wherever they are.”
Got this text from a friend who I went to high school with in Humboldt.
Inviting you to do the same as we remember and send our thoughts to the #HumboldtBroncos.#PrayersForHumboldt #Broncostrong #Humboldtstrong #theSJHL #TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/HHwZyUZ5KG
— Brian Munz (@BrianMunzTSN) April 9, 2018
Our thoughts and prayers remain with #Humboldt. #PutYourStickOut #HumboldtStrong pic.twitter.com/AAT1Dbs739
— Bauer Hockey (@BauerHockey) April 10, 2018
Girls and I have #PutYourStickOut for the boys. The coach in me figured coach Darcy would need a whiteboard as well. #HumboldtBroncos pic.twitter.com/ATBS8vAXKB
— jeff pearce (@jeffdpearce) April 10, 2018
The boys must have needed a goalie up there to make up a game. Rest easy Parker and the rest of the team #humboltstrong #putyourstickout pic.twitter.com/DI9u6dsQX1
— Wyatt Kieper (@ZooKieper_30) April 9, 2018
#PutYourStickOut we’re thousands of miles away in the UK but still a hockey family. Husband is Canadian and we keep #HumboldtBroncos in our thoughts and prayers #humboltstrong pic.twitter.com/5hMjV0hI0p
— Claire Wills (@ClaireWills78) April 9, 2018
R.I.P. Humboldt Broncos radio announcer Tyler Bieber. #putyourstickout #humboldtstrong #radioannouncer pic.twitter.com/4xaOL5EzGB
— Jason Lamont (@jasolamo) April 10, 2018
It’s unfair you didn’t get to finish chasing your dream… so take my stick and finish what you started up there big guy. Use that smile and look out for us down here. You’ll always be an Eagle 🦅 #PutYourStickOut #humboltstrong #JJ10 pic.twitter.com/FTYLElaQn3
— Paul McAvoy (@mcavoy05) April 9, 2018
#Prayersforhumboldt The light shines to honor those lost. Rest easy boys #PutYourStickOut pic.twitter.com/c73ry04yli
— Brandon Kasel (@bkasel_19) April 10, 2018
Just got home from U14 USA Hockey Nationals in Amherst,NY. Priority number one… #PutYourStickOut #HumboldtStrong Family catches you when you fall and gets you back on your feet. #prayers pic.twitter.com/ZeMqhPb35y
— Aaron Ward (@NHL_AaronWard) April 10, 2018
Living in the dorms but doing our best #SticksOutForHumboldt #PutYourStickOut pic.twitter.com/hgb7zqMUda
— Noah Koenig (@nkoenig19) April 10, 2018
Have a good game tonight boys. #HumboldtStrong #PutYourSticksOut pic.twitter.com/mGnNAVDLfM
— Chris Bortis (@Whoop91Bort) April 9, 2018
“maybe we should leave some sticks by the rink tonight buddy”….. “dad, I like that idea” #HumboldtStrong pic.twitter.com/ZCQxdkx3sO
— Ambrose M. Allin (@iAmBrose8) April 9, 2018
We wanted to show our support to the Humboldt community. We are thinking of those who lost their lives, who lost loved ones, and those who are experiencing pain because of this horrible accident. Our class is putting out our sticks in support of #HumboldtStrong #putyoursticksout pic.twitter.com/8VpTPKQsor
— Mr. Repa’s Classroom (@MrRepa_teacher) April 9, 2018
Leaving these out tonight in Dublin Ireland. Even this far away, the Broncos accident saddens people deeply. As someone whose been on such busses many moons ago, I can’t fathom the heartbreak of those close to the tragedy. #PutYourSticksOut #HumboldtStrong pic.twitter.com/0NsZ8NFVxj
— Aaron Murphy 🎙 (@MurphOnIce) April 9, 2018
Liam O’Brien & Adam Carlson did it too. It appear they live together. This is from their Instagram stories pic.twitter.com/RCVyXnHeRv
— Sheena (@CAPLDY) April 10, 2018
🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒 #PrayForHumboldt #SticksOutForHumboldt pic.twitter.com/CPOC3KrHK8
— NHL (@NHL) April 10, 2018
Out in front of the @HockeyHallFame #stanleycup #HumboldtStrong #putyourstickout Along with a tribute to @HumboldtBroncos inside. @NHL pic.twitter.com/Bxsj5acWJk
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) April 10, 2018
A GoFundMe raising funds for those affected by the crash has, at time of writing, raised over $6.8 million.
On Monday, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League said they had not made a decision on how to proceed with the championship following the crash.
Ten players, the bus driver, two coaches, a volunteer statistician and a broadcaster were confirmed to have died in the crash.
Headline image: Bauer Hockey
