The play-by-play voice of the Saskatoon Blades has offered to call a Humboldt Broncos game in the 2018-2019 season, and he’s calling on other broadcasters to do the same.
“I want to honour Tyler’s memory by calling a Humboldt Broncos game on Bolt-FM,” Les Lazaruk said in a tweet.
Tyler Bieber, who was the play-by-play announcer for the Broncos, was killed in a horrific bus crash on Friday night. The Broncos team was travelling to take on the Nipawin Hawks when their bus collided with a tractor-trailer. Sixteen people died and 13 people were injured in the crash.
In the tweet, Lazaruk said he’s offering to call the game for free. He added there are 58 regular-season games next year and he’s asked 57 other broadcasters to do the same.
1 other thing I feel, as I sit and look at #TylerBieber's spot in the 107.5 Bolt FM broadcast booth...I want to honour Tyler's memory by calling a @HumboldtBroncos game on Bolt-FM. For free! No talent fee! No gas money! No meal money! I don't care where the game is. There are...
— Les Lazaruk (@Bladesvoice) April 12, 2018
...58 regular-season games in 2018-19 and I hope 57 other broadcasters step up and do the same in #TylerBieber's memory...especially the former @HumboldtBroncos broadcasters. @BrianMunzTSN @ClarkStork @branden_crowe, etc.
— Les Lazaruk (@Bladesvoice) April 12, 2018
TSN announcer Chris Cuthbert has already volunteered.
“It would be a privilege,” he said in a tweet.
"I think it's massive to be able to try and help out in that respect and to try and help out with the transition period that the organization and the radio station is going to go through," Lazaruk told CTV on Friday. "
The tweet has generated dozens of responses from broadcasters across the country. Lazaruk said he was overwhelmed by all the support.
First of all...THANK YOU EVERYONE for your responses, likes and retweets. The idea of calling @HumboldtBroncos game FOR FREE came to me off of the leaving a stick at the front door concept. Next up...contacting #107BoltFM, the Broncos and the @theSJHL to make the logistics work!
— Les Lazaruk (@Bladesvoice) April 12, 2018
...there is no @theSJHL schedule for next season as of yet, but the response for 58 games has been overwhelming! Enough people to do at least a half game each!! And, I haven't really looked closely at Facebook yet! There will be updates, especially for interested broadcasters!
— Les Lazaruk (@Bladesvoice) April 12, 2018
Now that he has the names, the Blades announcer said he will take the idea to the Broncos, the SJHL and Bolt FM to work out the logistics.
Bieber was laid to rest at a funeral service in Humboldt on Thursday.
With files from CTV Saskatoon's Moses Woldu
