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Canadian broadcasters are stepping forward to pay tribute to one of their own who was lost in last Friday’s Humboldt Broncos bus crash.
The Broncos’ play-by-play voice, Tyler Bieber, was one of the 16 victims of that crash.
Along with his role with the team, the 29-year-old worked for 107.5 Bolt FM and was enjoying his first season as the Broncos’ full-time commentator.
As people put sticks out on their porch and wore jerseys on Thursday to honour the team, the broadcast community is coming together to specifically pay tribute to Bieber.
It started with a Thursday morning tweet from Les Lazaruk, play-by-play voice for the Saskatoon Blades.
Lazaruk said he wanted to honour Bieber’s memory by calling a Humboldt Broncos game when the team resumed playing for the 2018-19 season.
“There are 58 regular season games in 2018-19 and I hope 57 other broadcasters step up and do the same in Tyler Bieber’s memory.”
...58 regular-season games in 2018-19 and I hope 57 other broadcasters step up and do the same in #TylerBieber's memory...especially the former @HumboldtBroncos broadcasters. @BrianMunzTSN @ClarkStork @branden_crowe, etc.
— Les Lazaruk (@Bladesvoice) April 12, 2018
While he specifically called upon former Broncos’ announcers to do a game, his plea reached much further than that.
Some of the biggest broadcasters in the country quickly stepped forward and volunteered their services.
That includes Chris Cuthbert, Gord Miller, Dave Randorf, Joey Kenward, Dean Brown, Rob Faulds, Peter Loubardias, John Bartlett, Darren Dreger, Darren Pang and many more, most of which spend their time exclusively working NHL games.
It would be a privilege. Count me in.
— Chris Cuthbert (@CCtsn) April 12, 2018
I’m in. https://t.co/0KUlo4M9LN
— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) April 12, 2018
Les incredible idea. It would be an incredible privilege to honour Tyler in that way.
— Peter Loubardias (@fan960lou) April 12, 2018
I’m in! https://t.co/wrXkYvKu1E
— Rob Faulds (@SNFaulds) April 13, 2018
Count me in Lester
— Joey Kenward (@kenwardskorner) April 12, 2018
I would love to be a part of this for Tyler and the @HumboldtBroncos
— Dave Randorf (@DaveRandorf) April 13, 2018
I would love to bring a little “Holy Jumpin! “ please keep me in your thoughts. https://t.co/S1aXEQxJjz
— Darren R Pang (@Panger40) April 13, 2018
I haven’t called a game in years, but called my share for the @bdnwheatkings and would be happy to dust off the pipes. @HumboldtBroncos https://t.co/aD0X6WW0Nx
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) April 13, 2018
The program director for Bolt FM, the station that carries Broncos games, chimed in as well, saying she “sincerely appreciates the idea and it’s an amazing way to honour Tyler.”
At this pace, it won’t take long for all 58 games to be accounted for and there’s a good chance those games will feature both play-by-play and colour commentators.
Maybe a between the bench analyst as well.
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