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News June 3, 2018

The Roughriders offer their support to ‘Humboldt Strong’

in Humboldt, SK, June 3, 2018 Photo Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards

Senior Reporter

HUMBOLDT — Kaleb Dahlgren may be a big fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but the opposite was more evident on Sunday.

Players from the CFL team went out of their way to meet Dahlgren — a member of the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos — when the Roughriders held a practice at Humboldt’s Glenn Hall Park.

Dahlgren, a 20-year-old product of Saskatoon, was on the Broncos’ bus when it collided with a semi-trailer unit on April 6 while the team was en route to Nipawin for an SJHL playoff game. The accident claimed the lives of 16 people and injured 13 others — including Dahlgren.

On Sunday, the Roughriders held a practice in Humboldt after announcing plans to hold a “Humboldt Strong” game day on June 30. The Montreal Alouettes are to provide the opposition that day.

Family members of the 29 occupants of the bus, first responders who were on duty that day and Humboldt community leaders have been invited to attend the game. In total, the Roughriders expect to have some 250 people as their special guests.

“All the support has just been phenomenal,” said Dahlgren, who is recovering from his injuries. “For them to come to Humboldt and to have the ‘Humboldt Strong’ game just means so much.

“This didn’t just affect a community, it affected everybody. I’m really thankful for that and their support has been tremendous. There are so many people here today and it’s really nice to see everybody coming out and supporting the Riders.”

The Riders have been trying to offer their support to Humboldt since April 6. The desire to do so prompted the decision to dedicate a game to the community and to the Broncos — and the contest against Montreal on June 30 was selected.

“The club is a uniting force and people rally around the club,” said Roughriders president-CEO Craig Reynolds. “We know they’ll rally around the football team on the 30th, but we really want them to rally around the community of Humboldt on the 30th as well.”

In the wake of the accident, a GoFundMe campaign generated more than $15 million for the families of the victims. Shortly after the accident, Reynolds contacted Broncos president Kevin Garinger to pledge whatever support the Roughriders could offer.

From those discussions came the notion of holding the “Humboldt Strong” game.

On Sunday, Garinger said the idea “was almost overwhelming to think about.” His organization quickly realized that the game would assist those affected by the tragedy but also would help the Broncos pay tribute to those who have helped in any way since the accident.

“It’s such a humbling thing to know that you’ve got an organization like the Saskatchewan Roughriders who are standing behind you and supporting you to try and reach out and help others who have helped you through this unimaginable tragedy,” Garinger said.

“When (the tribute game) was announced that way, it was a way, as we looked at it, that we could give back to the first responders, our communities and people in the area who have done so much for us … (As well) our families will be able to join together and share in a relationship that is very important to them. That’s as big a part of the process as anything.”

On June 30, Broncos representatives will participate in pre-game ceremonies. There also will be a video tribute to the team and its home community.

The national anthem will be sung by the Canadian country music group Hunter Brothers, which also will perform at halftime.

The Roughriders, who are wearing “Humboldt Strong” bumpers on the back of their helmets, decided before training camp that one workout would be held in the community as a way of trying to help the healing process. That practice was held Sunday.

A crowd of about 3,000 people was on hand for the practice, autograph session and barbecue. Legendary Roughriders fullback George Reed also was in attendance for the workout, which ended with the players yelling “Humboldt!” as they broke their huddle.

“This (appearance) is as important as any we’ve ever done, to be quite honest with you,” said Reynolds, who hoped the practice provided what he called “a welcome distraction” for residents. “We were deeply impacted by the tragedy on April 6 and we reached out to the Broncos, to Kevin and his group, and we committed to being there for them for the long haul.

“We had some ideas and we quickly realized that we can help in the healing, so today was one of the ways we thought would be helpful for the community and the families.”

Humboldt resident Courtney Ward was wearing a Roughriders hat and a “Humboldt Strong” T-shirt as he took in the practice. His voice cracked as he talked about the Roughriders’ visit.

“It’s awesome that they came out today,” said Ward, who attended 17 straight Labour Day Classic games before family commitments snapped that streak a few years ago. “Them being here means a lot to the community for sure.

“We knew a few of the guys on the bus — my daughter is in Grade 12 — so this means that people are thinking about us and helping us here.”

Garinger felt the same way.

“When we know that people are grieving in the same way that we are, it helps us; it tells us we’re not alone,” he said. “Today, I think what’s most important is that people need to know we’re not alone. We’ve got people to support us and we’ve got the Saskatchewan Roughriders here to support us. That’s a real important message.”

Dahlgren has been to Mosaic Stadium just once — he attended the Eagles concert on May 17 — but he hopes to be at a game this season. If he can make it, that contest will be the one on June 30.

“(The Roughriders) are 100-per-cent my team,” he said with a huge grin. “The 13th Man is a real thing. I first went to one of their games back in the old stadium and I fell in love instantly. The crowd was into it and (the Roughriders) were getting pumped up by the crowd. It was an unbelievable experience.

“Hopefully I’m able to go to that one (against Montreal). If not, then I’ll definitely find another time.”