The city of the London gathered out front of the Covent Garden Market this evening to show solidarity to the victims of the Humboldt Broncos tragedy. It was an incredible turnout as almost everyone present was sporting a hockey jersey as part the nationwide event ‘Jersey Day’ to display how this country has come together to recognize and pay respects for those lost, and those effected in the bus crash.
The event opened as AM 980 sports broadcaster Mike Stubbs opened with a moving speech on those affected, and what the community of London has done to show support. The London Knights stood front and center for the photo taken as they held a banner that read “From our green and gold to yours.” The Broncos have been compared to the London Knights in their style of play and how they dominated their league, so it hit the hockey community here a little closer to home. The Knights organization has donated $5000 to the GoFundMe page set up for the victims and families of the tragedy. In under a week since the collision, donations have already reached 10.1 million dollars and the number is rapidly growing.
If you would like to donate, click on this link:
https://ca.gofundme.com/funds-for-humboldt-broncos
I spoke with multiple players on the Knights hockey team and asked them what an event like this means to a hockey city like London. They all seemed to have similar responses explaining how tragic it was and that it really makes you stop and appreciate being able to still be here and continue to play the game. Right wing Lucas Rowe explained how they ride buses all the time to get from city to city and it’s crazy to even think that an event like that could happen. Below is a picture of a very young Knights fan excited to get an autograph, it just goes to show how important hockey is to the London community.
This tragedy has shaken the nation to its core, everyone has been affected in some sort of way and have come together because of it. Another way to show respect and support besides the successful ‘Jersey Day’ that took place yesterday has been to leave a hockey stick on your front porch. If you want to show your respect, take your hockey stick that holds no meaning being locked in your garage, and set it out front on your porch where it can say a thousand words.