Hawks, Jets honor Humboldt junior hockey team; Sharp bid farewell
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Hockey people always say that the hockey world is a small one, and the bus crash that killed 15 members of the Humboldt Broncos junior team in Saskatchewan on Friday evening left an entire sport with heavy hearts.
"It's a sad, sad day for the hockey world today," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said after extending the team's condolences to the team and its fan base.
Quenneville played three years in junior hockey with the Ontario Hockey Association, so he's been on those buses, riding down seemingly endless country roads. The Humboldt bus was T-boned by a truck while the team was en route to a playoff game. Authorities have put the death toll at 15, with the other 14 injured. The players in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League are 16 to 20 years old.
Quenneville was reminded of the Lokomotiv team plane crash in Russia in 2011 that killed 43 of 45 passengers, including NHL standout Pavol Demitra.
"You can't imagine that," Quenneville said. "It's the worst fear as a parent, as a team. … There's been some tough ones over the years, but it certainly hits home in how close the hockey world and the hockey community is. Not just in Western Canada, but throughout all the leagues and America. [But] especially here."
All the Hawks and Jets wore BRONCOS on the backs of their jerseys instead of their last names, and the Hawks matched a $25,000 donation to the Humboldt club by the Jets and the NHL.
Current Rockford assistant coach and former Hawks defenseman Sheldon Brookbank played for the Broncos for three years, and Hall of Fame goaltender Glenn Hall was born in Humboldt.
Hawks drop season finale:
Andrew Copp scored twice and Connor Hellebuyck set an NHL record for most wins in a season by an American goaltender and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 on Saturday.
Hellebuyck, the 24-year-old Commerce, Michigan, goalie made 30 saves to pick up his 44th win (44-11-9), surpassing Tom Barrasso's 1992-93 run with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp got a standing ovation in the third period after the announcer told the crowd it was the veteran's final game. Sharp is retiring after 14 NHL seasons, 11 with Chicago.
Dustin Byfuglien and Kyle Connor also scored for the Jets (52-20-1), who have won five straight and a franchise-record nine in a row at Bell MTS Place.
The Jets, who relocated from Atlanta in 2011, also set franchise records for wins, points and home wins (21).
Winnipeg opens the NHL playoffs next week at home against the Minnesota Wild.
Jeff Glass stopped 35 shots for the Blackhawks (33-39-10), who didn't make the playoffs for the first time since 2007-08.
Brent Seabrook scored Chicago's goal.
Roster report:
Jonathan Toews missed the last eight games of the season with an upper-body injury. He finished with a career-low 20 goals, one fewer than he had last season.
• This report was produced in partnership with the Chicago Sun-Times. For related coverage, check chicago.suntimes.com. The Associated Press also contributed to this report.