It happens on streets, in stores and restaurants. Someone approaches the teen wearing a Humboldt Broncos hoody and asks if he plays for the team.

Michael Bladon is new to Humboldt, Sask., but he含羞草研究社檚 quickly finding just how many people already know who he is or want to get to know him.

含羞草研究社淵ou get a lot of attention. You get a lot of praise for doing what you含羞草研究社檙e doing and having to go what you含羞草研究社檙e going through,含羞草研究社� said Bladon.

含羞草研究社淭he whole town has made themselves available to us if you need to talk, if you need to vent to anyone. There含羞草研究社檚 so many outlets you can go to and just knowing that the way the city is feeling is through this hockey team, so I think it含羞草研究社檚 remarkable what we含羞草研究社檝e been able to accomplish and what the city has allowed us to do.含羞草研究社�

What the city has allowed Bladon and the Broncos to do is help a community grieve and heal.

Bladon suited up for the Broncos含羞草研究社� first home-opener Wednesday after the April 6 crash that killed 16 and injured 13 others on the team含羞草研究社檚 bus. Their game against the Nipawin Hawks was nationally televised and featured a post-game ceremony at Elgar Petersen Arena that honoured the victims.

Bladon said the team did its best to focus on the game, but once the final buzzer sounded all the emotions were freed.

含羞草研究社淭hat feeling on that ice and seeing those 3,000 people there, what they stood for and what they represented, just playing in front of them and their everlasting support. They were into the game, all game. This city lives and breathes hockey.含羞草研究社�

The 18-year-old Calgary native had an offer last season to play for Humboldt but wanted to try playing hockey in B.C., where he did last season on the blue-line with the KIJHL含羞草研究社檚 Nelson Leafs.

The Broncos kept in touch with Bladon throughout the season. After the crash he attended the team含羞草研究社檚 spring camp, and even though he含羞草研究社檇 had offers from other teams Bladon already knew where he was going.

含羞草研究社淥ne day I just decided if I let this opportunity pass I would regret it for the rest of my life.含羞草研究社�

Last month he travelled to the Saskatchewan city of nearly 6,000 people for training camp, and about two weeks ago moved in with a billet family who had previously housed and lost a player who died in the bus crash.

But just by putting on the jersey and stepping onto the ice, Bladon is giving back to a city he felt compelled to help.

含羞草研究社淚 honestly think I was put on this team for a reason. Our coach [Nathan Oystrick] said it best. He said all the guys are on this team because they can handle it. It含羞草研究社檚 been a lot since we came here and last night was just the climax of that.

含羞草研究社淓verything just kind of came rushing in at once and it hits you and you realize what is actually going on.含羞草研究社�

Which, as he already knows, is about a lot more than hockey.

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tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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