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Red Deerians show their hockey sticks in support of Humboldt

A Red Deerian and a proud hockey mom, showcased 15 hockey sticks Tuesday on her front porch to honour those involved in Friday’s deadly Humboldt bus crash.
Mamta Lulla
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A Red Deer resident put out 15 hockey sticks honouring those who died and survived in the recent Humboldt bus crash. Photo by Mamta Lulla/Advocate staff

A Red Deerian and a proud hockey mom, showcased 15 hockey sticks Tuesday on her front porch to honour those involved in Friday’s deadly Humboldt bus crash.

Lisa Yetter, from Inglewood, is like many social media users, who posted pictures of their hockey sticks, on their front porches with the hashtag #PutYourSticksOut.

The Humboldt tragedy “really hits hard,” for Yetter, whose 13-year-old son plays hockey and her five-year-old will soon start playing.

“I have cried a lot over this, and I know a lot of people who have cried over this as well,” she said.

Her older son Kobe Earles has played for the past eight seasons.

“And we did travel on the bus this season to Medicine Hat on Jan. 29 – in mid-winter,” she said.

As a hockey mom and a Canadian, Yetter said she is doing her part by sending thoughts and prayers to those involved in the Saskatchewan bus crash. She has also made a donation to a GoFundMe page for Humboldt, and plans to make another donation Wednesday when the Red Deer Minor Hockey hosts its annual end-of-the-year barbecue.

“We pretty much live and breathe hockey for 10 months of the year,” said Yetter.

Just like Yetter, Red Deer’s Ryan Hunter, a teacher and football coach at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School, also put a hockey stick outside his home in Inglewood.

Hunter said he has played hockey “since he could walk,” and wanted to show his support for Humboldt and for all the families involved.

The football coach said a tragedy of this magnitude reaches deeply for everyone – especially hockey fans.

In the more recent years Hunter has moved towards coaching football, hockey has always been close to his heart.

“Hockey has always been at core of my values,” he said.

Another reason why Humboldt was “heartbreaking” is because the Red Deer school’s football team travels in buses for games like most sport teams.

“Seeing that camaraderie that kids develop on buses and then realizing the loss of that magnitude they’re going through is really heartbreaking,” he said.

On Monday, Lindsay Thurber students were encouraged to wear green (Humboldt team colours) and had a moment of silence to honour those who died and survived.

Meanwhile Red Deer Public Schools are joining the rest of the country in solidarity for the Humboldt Broncos by donning jerseys on Jersey Day Thursday.

Other Red Deerians had their houses lit up in green and gold colours.

Six Albertans were among the 15 who died in the collision. Former Red Deer Optimist Chief Graysen Cameron, 18, of Olds survived the collision.

The posts were honouring those who died and survived when the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team’s bus collided with a transport truck near Tisdale, Sask.


mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com
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