Nick Shumlanski of Humboldt Broncros and his new East Coast Hockey House

HALIFAX-Less than six months after the crash of the Humboldt Broncos bus that made 16 dead, one of his survivors Nick Shumlanski, aged 21, recently agreed to play for the Panthers of the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) in Charlottetown from September.

And the head coach of the team said he was ready to offer the support that the young attacker might need as a result of his experience.

"It's my job to make sure all of our players live their best mental lives," Forbes MacPherson said Monday.

He added that his team helped other players through personal challenges, but the level of advertising around Broncos differentiates Shumlanski

"The fact is that if Nick needs support, we probably will know the reason. "

The new Shumlanski community in Prince Edward Island will undoubtedly experience some of the details of its history before it happens. The same will be true for the other six teams in the league, including four in Nova Scotia: the Dalhousie Tigers, the Saint Mary's Huskies, the Acadia Axemen and the St. Francis Xavier X-Men.

En route to a playoff game on April 6, a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos Junior Hockey Team collided with a transport truck on a rural route in Saskatchewan. Sixteen died as a result of the accident, including 10 players, two coaches, a statistician, a radio host, the bus driver and the sports therapist of the team.

Shumlanski, one of 13 survivors, was the first injured team members to be released from the hospital. Only two days after the accident, he attended a vigil at Humboldt with a visible bruise on his face, but no serious injuries.

Earlier this month, the 29-year-old driver was arrested and charged with 16 counts of indictment. dangerous driving of a motor vehicle causing death, and 13 counts of dangerous driving of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm. He has been released on bail while he is awaiting his next court appearance.

Colby Armstrong, a former NHL player, grew up in Saskatchewan and even ran for the Humboldt Broncos in his youth. the day after the accident. Now an badyst for Sportsnet, Armstrong connected with some of the survivors later in April, including Shumlanski.

It was on the recommendation of Armstrong that MacPherson first looked at Shumlanski as a potential recruit.

MacPherson said that a large part of Shumlanski's recruitment; they talked about the culture of Charlottetown, academics at the University of Prince Edward Island and, of course, hockey.

"All these things were very similar to those of all future student-athletes. It was different and it was something we had to discuss, "he said, adding that he wanted to make sure that UPEI was a" good choice "for Shumlanski.

"From his experience of this horrible tragedy, we had to make sure that he and his family were comfortable and excited and interested in the possibilities of coming to the Island. Prince Edward Island. "

MacPherson said that he thinks that the sweet island will be the perfect place for Shumlanski

" I have the impression that the people of the island are the only ones who have ever been here. Prince Edward Island will kiss Nick and make him become one of theirs, "he said.

StarMetro asked for an interview with Shumlanski. He spoke with the Charlottetown Guardian last week, but MacPherson said Shumlanski is now looking to maintain his privacy.

"I'm happy to play again," he told the Guardian. "It would be nice to come back on the ice for real hockey."

He added, "I hear a lot of guys saying that you have to continue to live their fate (the victims), and I think like that. Is something that I do as well. I always want to play hockey and do it for boys too, "he said.

Some of his surviving comrades also pursue their hockey career

Matthieu Gomercic and Bryce Fiske, both former Broncos. injured in the accident, they will play for the Institute of Technology of the University of Ontario in Oshawa

Others are still working on their physical recovery

L & L Accident paralyzed Ryan Straschnitzki from the waist; he can not feel or use his core muscles, which means that he had to relearn how to balance the top of his body.

Straschnitzki completed a rehabilitation program at the Philadelphia Shriner's Hospital at the beginning of the month and returned to Airdrie, Alberta

MacPherson said that Shumlanski did not decide what to do. he will study at the University of Prince Edward Island, but he turns to business

He will join at least seven other recruits of the team

based-based journalist and a freelance contributor for StarMetro. Follow her on Twitter: @tarynalgrant