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The Broncos were en route Friday to Nipawin for a Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoff game when a semi-truck collided with their team bus.

Fifteen were killed, including the Broncos’ head coach and 10 players between the ages of 16 and 21. An assistant coach, radio play-by-play announcer, statistician and the bus driver were also among the deceased.

Fourteen more were injured. There was some good news Sunday, with one of the survivors discharged from hospital.

The tragedy hit close to home for Hudson Bay’s Gulutzan and Melville’s McLellan, both fathers, both with experience in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and both fiercely proud of their prairie roots.

“I said in Winnipeg that our season was ‘painful,’ and I would like to take that back,” a visibly shaken Gulutzan said prior to Saturday’s regular-season finale against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Saddledome. “I’m from that area, I played in that league and I just can’t imagine what the moms and the dads are going through. I saw the picture of the boys, and they’ve got their hair dyed and they’re just young guys …

“I just feel for the families. I feel for the moms and dads and the kids.”

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On Sunday morning, just hours after both the Flames and Oilers capped disappointing seasons with victories on home ice, Gulutzan and McLellan were visiting some of those moms, dads and kids at Royal University Hospital.

Family of Airdrie’s Ryan Straschnitzki, who suffered a broken back in Friday’s crash, posted a photo on Twitter of the NHL coaches with the 18-year-old defenceman. The caption read: “Even the Flames and Oilers can put aside the battle to join together to help fight a different battle. Thank you so much Todd and Glenn. Ryan will be ready in September.”