Flin Flon Bombers fans were concerned for one of their own after news of the Humboldt Broncos’ bus collision hit town.
Among those on the bus at the time of the team’s deadly April 6 bus collision with a semi was former Flin Flon Bombers forward Nick Shumlanski.
One of 29 people on the Broncos’ bus, Shumlanski was injured in the accident. A total of 16 players and personnel died in the accident, including several of Shumlanski’s teammates.
According to a report from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, the accident occurred a short distance from Shumlanski’s family’s home near Tisdale. After the impact, Shumlanski called his family to tell them what had happened.
When Flin Flon Bombers head coach and general manager Mike Reagan heard about the accident, one thing flashed in his mind.
“My first concern was, ‘Is Nick Shumlanski okay?’” he said.
“With him being a Bomber for as long as he was, there’s that personal connection.”
Once Shumlanski was taken to hospital, both Reagan and Ken Entwistle – one of Shumlanski’s billet parents in Flin Flon – received calls from his family.
“We got the news that he was okay at the same time we heard about the incident,” said Entwistle.
“I know we got calls from all over the place about it, people being concerned and that sort of thing, past players.”
Shumlanski was reportedly able to walk after the accident. Along with several of his teammates, Shumlanski was airlifted to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon for further treatment.
While Nick was in the hospital, his father Myles reached out to the people Nick knew in Flin Flon.
“I got a call from his dad, which was much appreciated. Early on, I think within two hours of the accident happening, Myles called me,” said Reagan.
“He thought about the Bombers right away and knew we’d be concerned and was generous enough to think of us and contact us to let us know he was okay.”
After further treatment, Shumlanski was later released. He attended the vigil held for the team in Humboldt on April 9.
“The doctor had said to me that it was truly a miracle that I was able to get up and walk away with very minor injuries and a couple of scars on my body. I have been feeling very blessed and fortunate as I must’ve had people watching over me,” wrote Shumlanski in an April 8 statement on his Twitter page.
It has been only a few months since Shumlanski joined the Broncos, but the 20-year-old forward had assumed a key role on the team’s offence, leading the Broncos in playoff scoring along with former midget teammate and Bronco captain Logan Schatz. Schatz perished in the accident.
Entwistle said while Shumlanski lived with his family, along with Bomber netminder Brenden Newton, he was an everyday Canadian teenager.
“He liked to go fishing – we never went together, but he did do that quite a bit. The guys sort of hung out together and I know he was trying to learn how to play the guitar, basically the normal thing that goes on.”
“It was just a shock, really. It’s hard to believe, hard to get your head around.”
While the physical scars may heal and the injuries can be treated, it’s clear that a long road awaits Shumlanski and the other survivors of the accident.
Both Reagan and Entwistle have spoken with Shumlanski’s family and have communicated with him via text.
“We’ve been back and forth with Nick and he’s hopefully alright. My wife and I have had texts back and forth. Hopefully, he’s going to be okay. He has a rough road ahead of him,” said Entwistle.
“‘Being okay’ might not be the right words. Yeah, he’s able to walk out of this and all that, but there’s other damaging effects that come from something like this,” said Reagan.
In his statement, Shumlanski acknowleged that, but said that support from friends, family, the community and the hockey world had helped.
“Although reality hasn’t really set in yet, it is truly devastating to have lost so many close friends, brothers and amazing coaches. Times are tough right now, but the support you all have shown is so amazing. May you please keep everyone involved in this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers.”
Shumlanski played parts of four seasons with the Bombers, playing a total of 189 games with the team before being traded to Humboldt at this year’s trade deadline.
