'Nice to have them back': Home opener marks a new chapter for Humboldt Broncos

"What's the mood in the locker room like?" asked Dennis Locke, staring down at a player seated on the Humboldt Broncos team bench. "Tense?"

"No," replied the player as Locke prepared to zip-tie a homemade Broncos banner to the handrail.

"The guys just want to get on with the game."

And about an hour later, that's what the 2018-19 Humboldt Broncos did, beginning a new chapter for a team looking to escape the shadow of the tragic bush crash that killed 16 team members last April.  

The Broncos, playing from their home rink inside the Elgar Petersen arena, lost the 2-1 home opener game against the Nipawin Hawks.

But the junior hockey game, broadcast live in its entirety on TSN, served as more than just a contest. It gave the team, and the community of Humboldt, a much-needed second chance.

"It's a chance to see what would have happened," said ticket-holder Luke Puto, referring to the Hawks-Broncos game that the Broncos team bus was en-route to before the fatal collision with a semi-trailer.

Tribute ceremony for victims and survivors of Humboldt Broncos crash

6 years ago

Duration 1:30

The people who were involved in the Humboldt Broncos' bus crash were honoured during a special ceremony at Humboldt's Elgar Petersen Arena.

"Obviously, everyone knows the story," said Puto. "They're going up for the big game. Could lost, coulda won. We'll never know. But it's kinda nice to have them back."

Even before people filed into the arena, the reminders of the crash were everywhere.

As people drove into the arena parking lot under a grey and cloud-filled sky, they passed a series of placards, each bearing the face of a Broncos team member who perished in the crash.

Sixteen hockey sticks also stood to the right of the arena's front door.

"Mixed emotions," said Mark Dahlgren of the prevailing mood. Dahlgren's son Kaleb was on the bus but survived.

Kaleb, along with seven other 2017-18 Broncos, came out onto the ice before the puck drop. Some still showed signs of a limp.

The last of the players to emerge from behind the boards, Jacob Wasserman, rode out on a wheelchair to wild applause from people in the packed, standing-room-only arena.

During the minute of silence that followed, the survivors wiped away tears and offered each other reassuring pats on the back. People watching from the stands cleared their throats.

"I think some people thought that maybe there would never be hockey in Humboldt again," said Dalhgren. However, Wednesday game's was "a game to celebrate hockey back in Humboldt."

Echoed Puto, "I think it's going to bring everyone here some hope for the first time in a long time."

After the game, a tribute banner ceremony was held in memory of the victims and survivors of the crash.

Yellow and green banners with the names and numbers of each of the people on the bus that day were arrayed in a circle on the ice while pictures of the victims and survivors were shared on screen.