14 confirmed dead in junior hockey team bus crash

The RCMP confirmed 14 fatalities and 14 injuries in a collision involving a junior hockey team's bus in Saskatchewan on Friday, with rescue efforts ongoing late into the evening.

Police say there were 28 people on the bus at the time of the crash, including the driver. Three of the injuries are critical in nature. RCMP would not confirm whether the deceased were players or coaches as they work with partner agencies to notify and support families.

The Nipawin Hawks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League say the crash involved the team bus of the Humboldt Broncos, who were on their way to Nipawin for Game 5 of its SJHL semifinal series. The crash happened about 30 kilometres north of Tisdale, Sask.

This is the second time a Saskatchewan team with the name "Broncos" has been involved in a highway crash.

The Swift Current Broncos bus crash occurred in December 1986, killing four members of the Western Hockey League team. A memorial was placed at the site of the crash, about four kilometres east of Swift Current.&-

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