Ross Gilchrist was taken aback by how much a bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos affected him personally.

Gilchrist played for the junior hockey franchise from 1971 to 1973. The crash, which left 16 dead and many others dealing with lifelong injuries, prompted him to call a couple of former teammates and get an alumni association started.

He was able to purchase nearly 30 tickets for when the Broncos get back on the ice Wednesday night for their first regular season game since the tragedy and he offered them to the 220 people he managed to get on the teamB次元官网网址檚 alumni mailing list.

B次元官网网址淲e just got inundated,B次元官网网址� Gilchrist recalls from his home in Victoria, B.C.

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Emails started to flood in from people all over the world, including England and Sweden, who wanted to come and show their support.

Team president Jamie Brockman says he is not really sure what to expect when the Broncos face the Nipawin Hawks Wednesday night.

The Hawks are the same team the Broncos were on their way to play April 6 when their bus collided with a tractor-trailer at a rural intersection.

Brockman, who took over the presidentB次元官网网址檚 role last month, says the home opener, which will be broadcast live on TSN, is another step toward getting back to normal.

B次元官网网址淚 know weB次元官网网址檙e going to have a hockey team that is going to want to play for that logo on the chest,B次元官网网址� Brockman says. B次元官网网址滱nd a lot of people that want to see that be successful.B次元官网网址�

Broncos are warming up for their 1st home exhibition game. Puck will be dropped at 7:30. Bring a non-perishable food item for the Humboldt Food Bank to gain admission. Go Broncos!!

B次元官网网址� Humboldt Broncos (@HumboldtBroncos)

But, he says, last yearB次元官网网址檚 team wonB次元官网网址檛 be far from their minds.

B次元官网网址淭ime does help some, but weB次元官网网址檒l never forget,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e experiencing a new normal and weB次元官网网址檒l never want to forget the players and families that have been involved in that moving forward.B次元官网网址�

Memorials already line the halls and ice at the BroncoB次元官网网址檚 Elgar Petersen Arena.

Just inside the main doors, thereB次元官网网址檚 a big cross with the names of those who died in the crash along with a flag of what province they were from.

A giant hockey stick with the hashtags #BroncosStrong and #PrayersforHumboldt stands beside it.

Further down, thereB次元官网网址檚 a glass display with banners displaying the numbers and last names of everyone on last yearB次元官网网址檚 team and a team picture.

Candles, flowers, and Broncos themed hockey equipment are also on display.

Inside the rink, a pair of ribbons with the Broncos colours are painted into each end of the ice.

Pastor Sean Brandow has been in Humboldt for eight years and has worked with the Broncos as their chaplain. He recalls late coach Darcy HauganB次元官网网址檚 slogan: B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great day to be a Bronco, gentlemen.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 hope thatB次元官网网址檚 true again this year too,B次元官网网址� Brandow says.

Former Edmonton Oiler Chris Joseph, whose son Jaxon died in the crash, wishes the new team well.

B次元官网网址淎s much as we all want to remember our team from last year, we really want the Broncos to succeed and we really want them to heal,B次元官网网址� Joseph said at a recent event in the community.

B次元官网网址淲e want the town to heal.B次元官网网址�

Leo Wurtz, the founding president of the Broncos, is proud the team will carry on.

The 79-year-old, who lives in Lloydminster, Sask. now, says the new season will help take peopleB次元官网网址檚 minds off the tragedy.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 knowledge in the hockey world that the Humboldt Broncos were, if not they are, the top junior A franchise in Canada,B次元官网网址� Wurtz said. B次元官网网址漈heyB次元官网网址檒l follow in the footsteps of the great teams that were before them.B次元官网网址�

Ralph Britz, who was an assistant coach on the team in the early 1980s and a former season-ticket holder, says the community is behind the team.

B次元官网网址淗umboldt sort of (thrives) on the Broncos in the winter months,B次元官网网址� Britz says. B次元官网网址滻tB次元官网网址檚 a big income for the Humboldt area, because thereB次元官网网址檚 lots of people around here that just live for hockey.B次元官网网址�

There is a reunion for the 1972-73 Broncos team the day before the home opener.

Gilchrist, who was on that team, says itB次元官网网址檚 bittersweet to have the Broncos back for another season.

He recalls a conversation he had with HauganB次元官网网址檚 replacement, coach Nathan Oystrick.

B次元官网网址淚 said: B次元官网网址楾his is a win that youB次元官网网址檙e actually even icing a team this year,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Gilchrist said. B次元官网网址滻 think thatB次元官网网址檚 a huge win.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a pretty big deal, considering whatB次元官网网址檚 happened.B次元官网网址�

Ryan McKenna, The Canadian Press

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