The family of an Airdrie teen who was involved in a horrific crash late Friday afternoon says their son is okay and awaiting surgery, but they are ‘heartbroken’ by the loss of so many others.
Michelle Straschnitzki posted on social media on Friday night after the Humboldt Broncos team bus crashed in northern Saskatchewan while on its way to a game. She thanked people for their support and says that her son Ryan is in hospital.
"Thank you everyone for reaching out. Ryan is in hospital. There were fatalities and we are heartbroken. We will be flying out tomorrow,” she wrote in a Facebook post.
She spoke with CTV shortly afterwards, saying that her son is still in shock about what happened.
"He doesn't really understand what happened and he's still asking about his teammates and the coaching staff. I don't think it's hit him yet, what exactly happened. It's hitting all of us but I don't think he knows yet."
RCMP say that 14 people died when the bus was t-boned by a semi tractor-trailer on a highway about two hours northeast of Saskatoon. On Saturday afternoon, RCMp confirmed that a 15th victim died in hospital.
The Broncos were headed to play Game 5 of their series with the Nipawin Hawks when the crash took place.
15 people, including Straschnitzki and Graysen Cameron from Olds, were sent to a number of hospitals in the region for treatment.
Reports say a third member of the team, Logan Boulet from Lethbridge, did not survive.
There has been an outpouring of condolences and prayers on social media to the victims of the crash, including from politicians and members of the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers.
I cannot imagine what these parents are going through, and my heart goes out to everyone affected by this terrible tragedy, in the Humboldt community and beyond. https://t.co/2cIn2CTy08
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 7, 2018
Words can not describe the loss that we feel tonight.
— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) April 7, 2018
From a grieving province, thank you to first responders & medical professionals for courageous response under the most difficult circumstances imaginable.
Tonight, we all must pray for these families.https://t.co/dEnhKMkDxJ
The #Flames thoughts are with the @HumboldtBroncos and everyone affected by yesterday’s incident. #HumboldtStrong pic.twitter.com/gRxoywMPpB
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) April 7, 2018
#Oilers Entertainment Group extends its thoughts & prayers to the SJHL's Humboldt Broncos, their families & the Humboldt community this evening.
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 7, 2018
We send condolence, comfort and strength to all affected by the devastating crash involving the Humboldt Broncos’ team bus. pic.twitter.com/VScEay6sZv
— NHL (@NHL) April 7, 2018
Former NHLer Sheldon Kennedy, who himself was involved in a bus crash when he played for the Swift Current Broncos in 1986, says he is thinking of the players, staff and loved ones affected by this latest crash.
"One of the things I think sometimes is that we underestimate the impact and I think what we've learned, speaking to others tonight that experienced the accident we were on, is the magnitude of the impact of an accident like this on all of our lives. Individuals that survived, families that lost loved ones. It's real and it's significant and I think that we need to understand that and we need to make sure that we're doing everything that we can to support one another," he told CTV Calgary on Friday night.
He says that he can also relate to the young men who are in hospital right now.
"I know the very common feeling with us was survivor's guilt and what we could have done, or maybe if I did this, I could have saved this teenager or if I did that," he said.
Kennedy said he has spoken to a number of the other players who were on board the bus he was on and they are planning to visit Humboldt on Sunday to let the survivors and community know they aren't alone.
Hayley Wickenheiser, Canada's most decorated hockey player, says the situation also hit very close to home for her.
"All of us from Saskatchewan who grew up on those winter roads and we all know that this was a potential for all of us in hockey and I just have so much grief and condolences that I want to send to the families of the boys that didn’t make it and to the community of Humboldt."
She says that the impact of the crash has reached every corner of the hockey world.
"This has echoed across the entire hockey community around the world and I can tell you that many, many thousands of people are very devastated and hockey players are not immune to that and so there’s a lot of heartfelt conversations going on and I think we all just share in the grief because we know it could have been one of us."
According to the team’s roster, there are eight players from Alberta on the team.
The Humboldt Broncos are scheduled to speak to the media about the incident at 1:00 p.m.