A Tribute to a Team and a Town. Humboldt Strong

When I was growing up the Elger Peterson Arena became a second home for me, while my brothers got on the ice and played and practiced with their hockey teams. This ment counts less hours of me wondering that rink finding all the good hiding places and knowing where every door was and what it led to. Hockey was such a big part of our community that I can't even begin to imagine what it would have been like growing up without it.  Going to high school and going to bronco games where the rink was packed and goal or no goal you could hear the town cheering them on. Win or Lose we stood behind them as they did their best every game!

Now as a grown up I still see this same but different community come together every day, and it  reach's far more people that I had though when i was a teenager. This pass year I watched as those boys offered up their time to take kids trick-or-treating this year. They come to read books at the schools to the kids, they offered help where ever it was needed. While they would help support our community we are now their support in this hour of need. I didn't go to games like I probably should the impact they have on this small but mighty city is profound. This event has shown us all how closely knit this community really is. The world has stopped for just a moment to realize how important hockey is to not only this city but to Canada as a hole. Hockey has brought this country together to support a town you probably didn't even know was there until you heard this on the news. A strong city that the primister finally felt he should visit, and I like to think that you all showed him the true meaning of what it means to be a Canadian and a hockey community. The NHL showed us that hockey doesn't start there, It's starts on the creek in the winter while you play in the freezing cold. It starts at the rink with friends and a fun game of Shinny. It's starts with a love of a sport and support of their family's. This tragedy may seem horrible now, but look who it has brought together not just a city but a country and sport for all ages and backgrounds. Hockey is more than a sport it's a family, you may not have met half of them but they are your family because you have a love they share too. So lets celebrate these lost lives with stories of good times and how their lives brought so much to so many! So before the ice is gone get out there and play and remember the love and good times that this game has brought.

I am from and live in Humboldt Saskatchewan. I knew one of those men that died, My thoughts and prayers turn every day to them, wishing I could do more. So I feel like I needed to write this to try and get you all to see just how powerful we can all be when people need help. How we can all work together instead of fight when it comes down to it. We need to stand together only then can we truly make the world a better and safer place. Humboldt Strong