Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
The death of 16 young members of the Humboldt Broncos Junior A hockey team struck Canadians like few other catastrophes.
Because it’s such an extraordinary event, Cobourg council agreed Monday to take the extraordinary step of waiving ice fees to help Northumberland H2H host a tournament to raise funds not only for the Broncos but also for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Assistance Program.
H2H (which stands for Hockey To Hockey) founder Mykel Steeves made the appeal to council.
The April 6 collision of a semi with the team bus that resulted in the loss of so many young lives brought an immediate outpouring of both emotion and support. The GoFundMe site for the players raised more than $15-million, and the hockey stick left by the door as a symbol of support for the devastated community became (and remains) a common sight across Canada.
As for himself, Steeves said, he spent two days fighting off tears and wanting to do something more to help.
“Then it hit me – let’s play hockey!” he said.
He enlisted the help of Cobourg’s own Junior A team the Cougars. Pretty soon, what was supposed to be a game became a tournament that will see six teams compete at the Cobourg Commuity Centre June 16,
Boston Pizza, Lauria Auto Group and other local businesses are helping out with things like photography. And he even has the support of the Humboldt mayor, who has ensured that proceeds are given directly to the team and to the affiliated assistance program.
The Cobourg Community Centre ice is reserved for 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. that day, and the cost is $2,000. The CCC has already agreed to waive $500, but Steeves was hoping the town would approve a waiver of the full fee so that the team and its program can benefit even more.
Deputy Mayor John Henderson agreed that the outpouring of grief was heartfelt and almost unprecedented. And while the town has a policy for situations like this, Henderson added, these are exceptional circumstances.
Councillor Debra McCarthy wondered what this might say to the community, when council is singling this out as an exceptional event – as opposed to a van mowing down innocent pedestrtians in Toronto.
“Do we, as a community, identify more with young hockey players?” McCarthy wondered.
“Perhaps yes.
“Nevertheless, I think this was felt deeply, nationally and internationally. I support this.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
