Thirty years ago, tragedy struck the Swift Current Broncos.
A memorial now marks where four players died when their bus went out of control and crashed on Dec. 30, 1986.
Friday’s unveiling of the memorial brought back memories, both happy and heartbreaking.
“It certainly is a mixed bag of emotions, from tears to joy,” said Randy Ruff, who lost a brother in the crash.
“But when events like this happen, you try and draw the good things, and certainly from this there are good things, like the ever-lasting effects it’ll have on the families and the community.”
Trent Kresse, Chris Mantyka, Brent Ruff and Scott Kruger will forever be remembered, thanks to Bill Lee, who spearheaded a memorial at the site of the crash.
"We have to honour those families,” Lee said. “I knew every one of those boys, and they were great kids.”
Gord Hahn was the team’s trainer that year, but was with another team in Winnipeg when the Broncos’ bus crashed. A friend told him the news during the second period of a game he was working.
“I just came unglued,” Hahn recalled. “I collapsed.”
The memorial was made possible thanks to fundraising and donations. Lee says he still wants to install lights, and finish the landscaping, including planting four trees, one for each of the players remembered.
Based on a report by CTV Regina’s Jamie Fischer
