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By Duane Grandbois

Kelowna Rockets Visit Swift Current Memorial on Prairie Trip

Dec 8, 2017 | 8:10 AM

The Kelowna Rockets made a stop at a special monument on the highway yesterday to honour four Western Hockey League players tragically lost in a bus accident.

On December 30th, 1986 four players of the Swift Current Broncos — Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger, Chris Mantyka and Brent Ruff — were killed in a highway crash in Saskatchewan.

Marking the 30th anniversary last year, on December 30th, 2016 a memorial was unveiled at the crash site, located about four kilometres outside of Swift Current. It is a granite structure that stands two metres tall and is in the shape of a four-leaf clover with each player featured in one of the segments of the clover. The memorial also includes a list of survivors as well as stories of the accident.

The visit was more than just a stop for the players and coaches. Assistant Coach Travis Crickard says it was a very moving experience.

“Personally, when I learned we would visit the site I took some time to learn more about the story by reading the book ‘Sudden Death’ and sifting through as many newspaper articles as I could find. It was such a tragic incident that I felt out of respect to the Kresse, Kruger, Mantyka, and Ruff families I should take some time to learn about their lives. I feel I have some degrees of separation to the story in knowing Lorne Frey and Dan Lambert who were members of the 86-87 Broncos,” Crickard told. “Additionally, having been involved in a horrific bus crash when I played junior I tried to visualize how it all happened as we drove that route the Broncos did in 1986. It was so tragic and so sad being there and it was a strong reminder that we are not immune to anything in life. We should treasure every moment and cherish the gift we have been given to live the great life we live.”

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The Rockets made the stop on their way to Regina to face the Pats tonight.  Puck drop is at 5:00pm. The trip includes Brandon on Saturday, Tuesday in Moose Jaw and wrap up Wednesday in Swift Current.

 

by Duane Grandbois

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