The St. Albert Hockey Community tries to heal by paying tribute to the victims of the Humboldt crash

EDMONTON – Almost three months after a horrific bus accident rocked the suburban city of St. Albert, the signs are disappearing. There is the odd hockey stick leaning against a porch and a bunch of yellow and green ribbons hanging from the sign of a downtown store

but four young members of the team Humboldt Broncos hockey are far from forgotten. The tightly knit community just outside of Edmonton continues to heal, hosting a charity hockey tournament this weekend in honor of its four deceased players.

"There is not yet a complete closure, and that's what we're working on" Crouse, Chairman of the St. Albert Humboldt Commemorative Committee

On April 6, Stephen Wack, Jaxon Joseph, Logan Hunter and Conner Lukan were among 16 killed when a semitrailer truck collided with the bus carrying the Broncos. team for a match in Saskatchewan.

Wack, Joseph and Hunter were from St. Albert while Lukan was from Slave Lake. All four were former members of the St. Albert Minor Hockey Association and were alumni of St. Albert Raiders.

Crouse said that tragedy is always "an active thought in the minds of many people", which is why the committee and the wider community are working on ways for people to support each other. others. The committee is also working on a commemorative structure, scholarships for hockey players and park benches paying tribute to fallen players.

"It is clear to me that there is still work to be done," he said. The four-team tournament, with teams of 84 players, will run from Friday to Sunday at the Mark Messier Arena in Servus Place, St. Albert. The commemorative committee of St. Albert Humboldt will take 80% of the profits; the remaining 20% ​​will be donated to the Humboldt Strong Community Foundation, which was created by the Broncos team president to help the survivors.

Jacob Waldbillig, former player turned coach of the St. Albert Raiders, who skates to honor his friend Jaxon Joseph

"They will not be forgotten," said Waldbillig, who still wears a strong Humboldt yellow and green ribbon pinned to the collar of his shirt. "My father has coached him for many years, I have played with him for many years.It's going to be an honor to be in this tournament."

"That's just another way to remember it and I hope we can do it year after year. "

His memories of Joseph are still fresh, he remembered that once his friend had received a penalty during a match and was not too happy about it.

"My dad was the coach and he was going right behind him and rubbing his shoulders and saying (slowly), & # 39; Good Jaxon, good Jaxon "Waldbillig laughed, saying that the piece has become a joke with the team for years …

" Unfortunately, we can not do it anymore. "

Kevin Porter, president of the St. Albert Raiders Hockey Club, acknowledges that all the work he's doing is helping the community recover.

"It's still the. It's always something we insist on, so we stay active, trying to do things. That helps us move forward, I suppose, "said Porter.

Josh Dechaine, who co-hosts the charity game Friday, said that after the accident, he wanted to do something but get himself felt helpless.

"I felt just terrible for everyone after the tragedy, so when our group of friends got the idea, I jumped on it, and that 's it. was a good way for me to start the healing process and give a hand in a certain way, "he said.

Dechaine, who also played for the Oil Kings of 39, Edmonton over the past two years, said that the shock of April looked like a nightmare.

"You did not even believe that it was a nightmare. was real.Every day you woke up hoping it was not real.It's just so close to home because the bus is basically your home away from home when you play in junior hockey, that's where the memories are; it's just crazy, "he said.

He said that although time is an important factor in the healing process, it will take a long time to overcome this pain.

"It's one of those things that will never be erased from your mind, and I think it's something you'll always think about at some point and you'll always be angry," he said. declared Dechaine.

The hockey season begins in October, and Porter said that he was expecting to do something for players who fell before that. He said the team is working on a number of initiatives, including Humboldt patches for jerseys and the lifting of a banner.

"We consider that it is our responsibility that something be in place to show the community," he said.

With records of Kevin Maimann

Kashmala Fida is an Edmonton journalist who covers the city hall and diversity. Follow her on Twitter: @KashFida