It has been one year since the Humboldt Broncos tragedy that shook the country and claimed the lives of 16 people.

Geoff Stewart, President of Okotoks Minor Hockey says though the pain hasn't stopped after a year, neither has the support.

"People are obviously still feeling it. The fact that it's a year is actually shocking because it still hits home to many people. We think about it often, you see many of the children and teams wearing stickers on their helmets, and we've had teams produce jerseys that resemble the Humboldt Broncos."

News of the crash resonated with so many people across the country due to the regularity of these kinds of bus trips.

"When you're involved in minor hockey, you've ridden the bus several times and you've grown great friendships with players, parents, and coaches and whoever it might be. For anybody who's played any type of sports and experienced that, it hit home."

Ryan Straschnitzki, a member of the Broncos, recently appeared in Okotoks to speak at the Youth Pep Rally for Hometown Hockey. Ryan had played in Okotoks several times with the Broncos, and has since returned to the ice, often practicing with Alberta Sledge Hockey at the Centennial Arena.

Stewart says he's pleased to have met Ryan a few times.

"I've had a couple opportunities now to meet Ryan. What a great young man and an inspiration not only to the children in our association but the coaches and everybody else. We've seen him practicing sledge hockey a few times on the ice; just remarkable. We love having him in our community, that's for sure."

The incident is still fresh in the minds of many, who still don green jerseys, display Broncos stickers, and who to this day still leave hockey sticks out on their porches.

 

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