A tragic accident Friday night involving the Humboldt Broncos hockey team has many shaken, even here in the southeast.

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team was scheduled to play in game 5 in their series against the Nipawin Hawks. The winner of that series would play for the SJHL championship and then face-off against the winner of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The Steinbach Pistons and Virden Oil Capitals began their MJHL championship series the same night in Steinbach.

Nipawin RCMP said in a news release they were called to the scene of a "serious" collision on Highway 35, about 30 kilometres south of Nipawin, Saskatchewan late Friday afternoon. RCMP have determined there were 29 people on the bus at the time of the collision, including the driver. Police have confirmed 14 of the individuals on the bus have died and the other 15 have been sent to hospital with a variety of injuries. Of the 15, three are critical.

Former Steinbach Piston Matthieu Gomercic, who is on the Humboldt roster, survived the crash and is reportedly doing ok.

Pistons Head Coach Paul Dyck, struck by the news, offered these thoughts following their game Friday night. 

"It's an absolute tragedy. I found out prior to the game and it kind of puts everything into perspective. We lost a hockey game that we're disappointed in and disappointed with our play and right now all I can think about is the Humbolt Broncos, their players, their coaching staff and the families. It's pretty emotional for the guys right now."      

Many in the hockey and sporting world have been expressing their thoughts and prayers on social media Friday night.