A banner honouring the Humboldt Broncos hangs at Mariners Centre in Yarmouth. (Y95 Photo)
It’s a sombre anniversary in our country.
Three years ago today, 16 members of the Humboldt Broncos Junior A hockey team died in a bus crash in Saskatchewan.
Among the victims, their Head Coach, Darcy Haugan.
The Yarmouth Mariners were travelling back from Bridgewater after a playoff game when the news broke.
Mariners Head Coach Laurie Barron says he and Haugan became friends over the years.
“I sent Darcy a text, saying listen I know you’ve got a lot going on right now. Please give me a text and let me know you’re ok. Then we started to get more of the news and just how serious it was. It was a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach.”
Barron says Haugan was a true gentleman, a great family man and father.
“He was about family, first and foremost. He was one of the good guys in the game. I knew him for a few years when he was coaching Junior B, and I got spend time with him at some hockey showcase events in Las Vegas. He was someone I enjoyed spending time and talking hockey with.”
The Mariners have honoured his memory with the Darcy Haugan Award, given to the team’s playoff MVP each season.
The 2018 Darcy Haugan Memorial Award recipient: Leif Hertz. (Photo Contributed)
