Now that the buzz has (presumably) worn off on what's been a week long bender for a Washington Capitals' club whose tolerance has been built up by offseason after offseason of having to drink away their second round sorrows, this sobering story is long overdue. The fact that even the most tragic of catastrophes tend to have but a short-term staying power in both our minds and our hearts is a sad truth, but it's a truth nonetheless. The bus crash that took the lives of sixteen kids and coaches, the health of thirteen others that were also pursuing their passion, the innocence (and much, much more) of their families and friends, and the peace of mind of countless people with even the loosest of ties to the team, the city, and the sport happened a little over two months ago. Yet, to even the most compassionate of unattached fan, I'd bet the wounds don't seem anywhere close to that fresh. The hockey world showed an overwhelming amount of support for a disaster that could have easily effected any one of us, and it still feels as though it came and went too quickly. So credit to Chandler Stephenson for recognizing that the small Canadian town with which he shared a province growing up could still use a small reason to smile as it's still very much in mourning. For as relatable as the celebratory "boys will be boys"-style binge drinking has been, the unifying power of hockey is that much greater a reflection of its sense of community. The Capitals' forward doesn't seemed to have forgotten that, as it sounded as though Saskatchewan never left his mind as he achieved his lifelong dream of raising the Stanley Cup. Humboldt deserves a day with hockey's ultimate prize, as the strength that its survivors have shown says just as much about as the sport as the tens of thousands of sticks that were left leaning on porches.
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