Deslauriers: 'We're going to do everything we can to help'

TORONTO - There was only one topic of conversation in the Canadiens' locker room following Saturday morning's optional skate at the Air Canada Centre, and it wasn't the regular-season finale against the Maple Leafs.

The tragic events that occurred in Saskatchewan on Friday evening hit both head coach Claude Julien and his players especially hard.
Fifteen lives were lost and 14 people were injured after a semi-trailer collided with a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos, members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
The squad was on its way to a playoff game when the incident occurred.
Before fielding questions from members of the media, Julien expressed his heartfelt condolences to all those affected by the tragedy.
"On behalf of the organization, and myself, I want to take the time to send our sincere condolences to all the families affected in that crash in Saskatchewan. Being in the same sport they're in, it certainly touches us deeply," said Julien. "We've all got memories of being on buses at some point, so we can certainly relate to the risk and the things that can happen, so we certainly feel for all the families and our thoughts and prayers are with them."

No stranger to riding buses over the years both as a coach and as a player, the veteran bench boss was shaken when he learned what had transpired on Friday.
"I stand here right now and I've got shivers running down my body because you can just imagine what everyone's going through right now. It's not an easy day," said Julien, who was quick to point out that events like these are an important reminder that there's far more to life than sports alone. "It puts things in perspective. You look at those things and you take a step back and you honestly tell yourself - 'This is the big leagues, but it's only a job and there are things that are way more important in life than what we do.' That's when sometimes those things make you take a step back and make you think of your families and everything that's really important in life. There's no doubt that those are reminders of how tragedy can happen so quickly."
Defenseman Brett Lernout patrolled the blue line for both the WHL's Saskatoon Blades and the Swift Current Broncos before turning pro, so the news was especially tough to take.
"I called Saskatchewan my home for about four years, and to see that happen to a junior team out there, it's terrible. It happened a while ago out there, and for it to happen again, it's tragic," said Lernout, referencing the 1986 crash involving the Broncos' team bus that resulted in four members of the squad being killed. "My deepest condolences go out to all the families that were affected. I'm just kind of speechless right now… It's just horrific and I hope that never happens again."

Julien's troops confirmed that they will all be donating funds to the
GoFundMe page
that has been set up on behalf of the Broncos victims and their families.
"We're going to do everything we can as a team to help the families. We already talked about it. We're going to donate. It touches us all," said Nicolas Deslauriers, who still vivdly recalls his days travelling the highways by bus as a member of the QMJHL's Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. "The 117 is a tough road when you're heading to Rouyn. Everyone's together on those rides. Everyone who plays hockey is affected by this, everyone who rode a bus. We all did it. It's something you don't expect, and when it happens, it's a shock."
Fellow QMJHL grad Charles Hudon was emotional as well.
"You're on the bus so often, so it's tough to hear and it's tough to see the images. We're all touched by it, everyone in the NHL," said Hudon. "We're going to do what we can to help, the whole team, together. It's a tragedy that touches everyone across the globe."