Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews helped deliver game-worn sweaters with Broncos name-plates, worn by teammates and the Winnipeg Jets last Saturday, one week after a tragic bus crash.
Two duffel bags of jerseys worn by #Jets and Blackhawks at last regular season game arrive in Humboldt with @JonathanToews and @NHLJets Mark Chipman. Given to #HumboldtBroncos before funeral of player Jacob Leicht. @OrmistonOnline was there. #humboldtstrong @CBCManitoba @CBCNews pic.twitter.com/4lNkunq3zH
— Karen Pauls (@karenpaulscbc) April 13, 2018
Sixteen people died in the bus incident, in which the Humboldt Broncos’ bus collided with a semi-truck as the the team was making its way to Nipawin for a SJHL playoff game. Ten players from the Broncos died along with their head coach, assistant coach, bus driver, athletic therapist, statistician and play-by-play broadcaster.
Funerals for three victims, Adam Herold, Glen Doerksen and Jacob Leicht, will be held Friday. Earlier in the day, Toews attended Leicht’s funeral.
“I can’t for one second pretend that I know what it’s like for anyone close to this event, to know what they’re going through what they’re feeling,” Toews told Canadian news outlet CBC.
”But just to know the entire hockey world is there for them, support and love is there.”
The hockey community has rallied around Humboldt since the tragedy. A GoFundMe page to provide funds for the community has raised more than $10.7 million, becoming the third-largest campaign in the platform’s history, and hockey fans have left their hockey sticks outside their doors to pay tribute to the team.