Rosanna Manzer is a hockey mom of four kids and her husband is a hockey coach.
With a strong love for the game, when they saw the online hashtag #PutYourSticksOut in support of the Humboldt Broncos, they did exactly that.
“Any tragedy like this, hits close to home for everyone and is so terribly heartbreaking.”
Nationwide and throughout other countries people are putting their hockey sticks on front porches to show support for the Humboldt Broncos.
On April 6, the Broncos were on their way to a hockey playoff game in Nipawin, Saskatchewan when a tractor trailer collided with the bus.
To pay tribute to the 16 who died and the 13 injured, an online trend is surfacing called #PutYourSticksOut.
“This story has consumed my thoughts since hearing about it,” Manzer said.
Sports have a way of bringing people together.
“We are just heartbroken for these families. We understand how when you’re a hockey family, all the kids become each other’s. Hockey parents and coaches all take each other’s kids under their wings and love them and look out for them like their own,” Manzer said.
Even though the accident happened across the country, locals want to show support.
“I hope they find just a small amount of comfort knowing the nation is supporting them and here for them.”
It’s not just hockey families supporting the online trend.
Kyle Bradley saw the trend online and wanted to be a part of it.
“It’s something I saw start quickly on Facebook and seemed a simple meaningful way to join others across our country to show some kind of support for such a sorrowful thing that happened.”
Bradley is not a hockey parent but wanted to show his support.
"We're not even a hockey family, but but that just shows you who this has reached," he said.
A GoFundMe page was also created in support of those affected by the accident and as of 6 pm on April 11, it has reached $8,768,095.
Hockey legends, corporations and members of the public have all donated.
“To see the funds raised by complete strangers who genuinely hurt for these families is incredible,” Bradley said.
