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As the entire nation grieves for the 15 lives lost in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, the survivors recovering in the hospital are getting some very special visitors.
On Sunday the Broncos organization confirmed that one player had already been released from the hospital and 13 other survivors were still recovering.
A family member of Ryan Straschnitzki who uses the twitter handle @strazsr has been posting regular updates to Twitter from the hospital.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his son stopped in to visit the surviving members of the Broncos team and support staff at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon on their way to the vigil in Humboldt on Sunday.
We may not agree on Politics. But we sure do agree on Support. sure am proud our Prime Minister and his son showing up and chatting hockey. Thank you very much. pic.twitter.com/czD3BXhPTJ
— Strazsr (@strazsr) April 8, 2018
Other visitors included high profile members of the hockey world.
There are few people who know what the surviving players of the Humboldt Broncos are going through right now, but two people who come close are former NHLers Sheldon Kennedy and Bob Wilkie.
Both men were part of the Swift Current Broncos when their bus crashed, killing four, in 1986. They paid a visit to the 13 survivors who remained in hospital on Sunday.
At the time, Kennedy said he underestimated the impact of a tragic accident on the entire community connected with the team and the families.
“I really didn’t understand it, and I think I understand it today,” Kennedy said in a phone interview with 980 CJME on Saturday.
Speaking with some of his teammates who were on that bus 30 years ago, he said this is bringing up memories and scars that won’t ever go away.
“I think this is a time for the community – whether you’re hockey fans or not hockey fans – to come together and support one another,” Kennedy said. “Sometimes we don’t want to get involved because we may not know what to say. But I don’t think this is about words, this is about showing up for one another however we can.”
Calgary Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan alongside Oilers’ coach Todd McLellan put aside their franchise rivalry and turned up at the hospital with gifts.
@NHLFlames @EdmontonOilers Even the Flames and Oilers can put aside the battle to join together to help fight a different battle. Thank you so much Todd and Glenn. Ryan will be ready in September pic.twitter.com/540FXU76k7
— Strazsr (@strazsr) April 8, 2018
Hockey broadcasting legends Don Cherry and Ron Maclean also dropped in to visit the survivors and told some of their best hockey stories.