Close call on NOJHL bus
The bus carrying the French River Rapids of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League was involved in an accident on Saturday morning.
The accident that involved the French River team bus occurred on Highway 64 early Saturday morning as the Rapids were returning home from a road game in Kirkland Lake against the Gold Miners.
“The entire NOJHL is extremely thankful that no one was seriously hurt in the incident,” said NOJHL commissioner Robert Mazzuca. “The quick thinking of the team’s bus driver undoubtedly prevented the potential of a very serious incident from occurring and we commend him for his actions.”
Mazzuca recalled the tragedy of this past April when the team bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Jr. Hockey League was involved in a deadly accident that claimed a number of lives.
“Traveling to and from games is something teams in every sport deal with on a continuous basis and in the wake of the tragic events involving the Humboldt Broncos in April, the NOJHL is making available counseling, with assistance from the Canadian Mental Health Association, for the entire French River Rapids organization, along with any other league member clubs, over this very close call,” Mazzuca added.
Mazzuca also noted that the NOJHL “sincerely commends Hockey Canada, the Canadian Junior Hockey League, the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, the Ontario Hockey Federation and all of its member partners for their prompt response to this situation.”