Hockey community pays tribute to Canadian players killed in crash

BOSTON -- Local families are leaving hockey sticks outside their homes in honor of the 15 lives lost in a bus crash involving a Canadian junior hockey team.

Ten young players and five others, including two coaches of the Humboldt Broncos, were killed after the bus they were on collided with a tractor trailer last week.

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Since the tragedy, #SticksOutForHumboldt has been trending on social media, encouraging others to pay their respects to those who died and show their support for the Humboldt community by leaving their hockey sticks by the front door.

"It is like one big family," said Christine Day, a Medway mom of a teenage hockey player. "So what happens to one hockey family happens to all of us."

Day and her family placed three sticks against a light post outside their home.

In Medfield, the Teachout family put three sticks belonging to 7-year-old Will against the house.

"The kids get on buses and they go on trips, and as they get older, they go on longer trips, and it could’ve been anybody in this town or any other town around here," dad Chris Teachout said. "It crosses international borders between Canada and the United States. We are one big hockey team and we all support each other, no matter what."

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Police and fire departments, too, showed their support on Twitter and Facebook.

"Remembering lives lost way too soon," Braintree police tweeted with two pictures . "For the boys. #SticksOutForHumboldt #PutYourSticksOut #Angelsontheice"

Danvers Fire Department tweeted a picture of two hockey sticks in front of the fire headquarters with the caption, "#prayforHumboldt."

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