More than a year after a deadly bus crash that devastated their junior hockey team and the nation, Tyler Smith and Kaleb Dahlgren are focusing on healing and building their futures.
Airing Thursday on CBC-TV, the documentary B次元官网网址淗umboldt: The New SeasonB次元官网网址� shows the two crash survivors and others as they try to recover and move forward from the trauma of April 6, 2018, when a semi-trailer unit collided with the Humboldt Broncos team bus in rural Saskatchewan. Sixteen people died and 13 were injured.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 impossible to try to fully heal or get that closure B次元官网网址� but now itB次元官网网址檚 more or less doing the proper things and seeking out help when you need and not forcing it,B次元官网网址� says Smith, 21, who returned to play with the team for a bit last season and then decided to go home to focus on himself and his loved ones in Leduc, Alta. This fall, heB次元官网网址檒l enter the radio and television program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.
B次元官网网址淐ontrolling the things I can control has helped me tremendously throughout this process,B次元官网网址� adds Saskatoon-based Dahlgren, 22, who is undergoing craniosacral therapy for a third-degree brain injury he suffered in the crash. HeB次元官网网址檚 also trying to get medical clearance to play in a hockey game again, and will continue his business commerce degree at TorontoB次元官网网址檚 York University this fall with the goal of possibly shifting into chiropractic studies.
B次元官网网址淏ecause I canB次元官网网址檛 control the accident, I canB次元官网网址檛 control injuries I had or people that arenB次元官网网址檛 here,B次元官网网址� Dahlgren says. B次元官网网址滱ll I can control is myself and how I perceive it and my actions.B次元官网网址�
Kevin Eastwood and Lucas Frison wrote and directed B次元官网网址淗umboldt: The New Season,B次元官网网址� which follows five of the survivors and some of the families of the deceased as the 2018-2019 hockey season unfolds with a different coaching staff and some new teammates. The film also touches on the trial and sentencing of the truck driver who caused the crash.
Watch the trailer
Frison says late BroncosB次元官网网址� assistant coach Mark Cross, who was one of the victims, was his best friend growing up. They were B次元官网网址渋nseparableB次元官网网址� since they were about three and played hockey together, so once the grief and shock of the tragedy wore off, Frison knew his next project had to commemorate Cross in some way.
B次元官网网址淚 guess it would be part of the healing process for me,B次元官网网址� Frison says in a phone interview from Regina, noting CrossB次元官网网址檚 father introduced him to the Broncos families.
B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 want to be just another camera to the players and the families. My friendship, my connection with Mark, that helped us build relationships. And ultimately, the relationship building B次元官网网址� that was a very rewarding part of this project, getting to know so many of these really courageous people.B次元官网网址�
Frison started rolling cameras in August 2018 and shot throughout the teamB次元官网网址檚 entire season, as some players returned. Smith played 10 games before moving back home to Alberta to continue his healing.
B次元官网网址淚 think for my healing and for my growth, it was a good thing to go back and prove to myself that I could still do it,B次元官网网址� Smith says.
B次元官网网址淣ow I necessarily donB次元官网网址檛 have to live with the regret of not knowing if I would have went back. So IB次元官网网址檓 really proud that I went back and I hope my angels and everybody else is really proud.B次元官网网址�
Smith says his B次元官网网址渁ngelsB次元官网网址� are the 16 who died in the crash.
B次元官网网址淚 know my angels would really want me to live my life like they know I would want to,B次元官网网址� he adds, referring to his choice to leave the team. B次元官网网址漇o itB次元官网网址檚 now just focusing on what I want to do and being with family and friends. Taking each day one step at a time and trying to live for them as well.B次元官网网址�
Victoria Ahearn, The Canadian Press
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