Less than a year after a devastating team bus crash killed 16 people and injured 13 more, the Humboldt Broncos are heading to the playoffs.
The Broncos finished in sixth place in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and will play the Estevan Bruins when postseason play opens March 15.
"It will be a tough series," interim coach Scott Barney told the Canadian Press (via Sportsnet). "They've got a great team down there. They've got a lot of older, veteran players who have a lot of experience."
Two players who survived the crash returned to the team in 2018-19. Ten players died in the April 6 crash that was caused by a semitruck driver failing to yield and colliding with a bus carrying Humboldt players and staff.
"I don't think many of us knew what we were getting ourselves into coming into the year—just with what happened and with so many new players being on the same team and not playing together, it was a bit of a learning curve," center Michael Clarke said.
The learning curve included a midseason coaching change, as Nathan Oystrick and the Broncos parted ways in December. Former coach Darcy Haugan was among the people who died in the crash.
Brayden Camrud, one of the two survivors currently on the team, had 27 goals and 28 assists during the regular season. Derek Patter, the other, had 10 goals and 11 assists.
Defenseman Morgan Gobeil, who suffered a serious head injury in the crash and was the last of the players remaining in the hospital, was released earlier this month. He is not able to walk or talk.
Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, the driver of the semi, pleaded guilty on 29 criminal charges related to the crash. The Crown has asked for him to be sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Sidhu is set to be sentenced March 22.
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