'Just imagine in your minds what they could have done': Bathurst mayor

Seven teenage basketball players who died in a New Brunswick highway accident on the weekend were remembered on Wednesday as community leaders whose lives ended too soon.

Dressed in Bathurst High School's red and black, more than 6,000 mourners overflowed the 3,500-seat arena at the K.C. Irving Civic Centre to pay their final respects.

Those who couldn't find seats gathered in a nearby hockey rink to watch the service on closed-circuit television.

Five of those who died — Nathan Cleland, Justin Cormier, Daniel Hains, Javier Acevedo and Codey Branch — were 17 years old. The other two students were Nick Quinn, 16, and Nicholas Kelly, 15.

A soloist sang Ave Maria as people filled the last empty seats in the centre's hockey arena. A student choir held hands and sang, their voices breaking as the funeral began.

"Thank you for allowing our community to be here with you today to share in this ceremony," Bathurst Mayor Stephen Brunet told the boys' parents.

"You have lost your precious sons. We have lost seven future leaders. For a moment just imagine in your minds what they could have done."

Thousands of e-mails from across the community, the province, Canada and the world have streamed into Bathurst since the horrific accident that claimed the lives of the teens, Brunet said.

'Our nation grieves with you': Jean

"Our nation grieves with you," Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean said in a message read to the community by Brunet. "On behalf of all Canadians, I offer you our deepest sympathies."

Jean visited Bathurst last May and toured the town with the boys' basketball team. In her letter, Jean reflected on the smiles and laughter that the teens shared with her during the visit.

"Today you mourn the loss of your sons, your brothers, your teammates, your friends. You mourn the loss of your exceptional teacher," said the note.

"These bright, passionate  individuals were eagerly looking toward the future with their dreams to guide them. Their accomplishments, whether academic, athletic or personal, were a source of great pride for the entire community."

The seven players, along with a local teacher, were killed early Saturday when their van struck a tractor-trailer while returning from a game. The teacher, Elizabeth Lord, was the wife of the team's coach, Wayne Lord, who was driving the van.

The coach along with his daughter and two other players survived the crash.

"Sadly our world is an unpredictable and contrary place," said Rev. Greg Culligan, a priest serving a number of Bathurst's Catholic churches. "On one hand, there is splendour and enjoyment, and on another, there is tragedy and sorrow," he said to the shaken community.

Strong memories

Vivid memories of the boys will stay with the community, said Rev. Keith Adams, a local United Church minister. It was a fitting tribute that the town has been leaving on its porch lights "throughout this dark week," Adams said.

"In our Christian tradition, light is a powerful symbol of hope," Adams told the mourners. "It is from the light of Christ that we draw our strength and our vision to move forward when darkness befalls us."

Eulogies for each boy were read by family and friends.

"They say a successful team is a group of many hands but one mind," said Codey's father, Dale Branch.

"The community has come together as a team because of the tragedy," Branch said, "and it must not forget those lessons of caring, support, encouragement and determination."

Branch recalled that he was initially disappointed when Codey told him he was giving up hockey to play basketball — transferring to Bathurst high to play with the Phantoms in the fall.

But his son was always an independent thinker and followed through with what he wanted to do, Branch said.

"Codey, in closing, we have some advice for you that you must listen to. Your parents, your brother Patrick, your sister Kamie, and your relatives and your friends — we love you forever. This is a promise we make to you today and we will see you again."

Emily Cleland remembered the compassion of her brother, Nathan.

'The strong, silent type'

"He was one of those people who would listen to you even if he didn't understand what you were going through," Cleland said. "He actually preferred to listen. My brother was the strong, silent type. But when he had something to say, it was always something meaningful and witty."

Nathan wasn't much for planning because of his spontaneous nature, Cleland said, but he had planned to apply for firefighter training after his June graduation.

"You all know he would have been one of the really good-looking ones that would have ended up on a calendar."

Justin Cormier was remembered for his entertaining nature. Wearing one of Justin's hats, his cousin, Miranda McLean, told those assembled that she'd heard a lot of "only Justin woulds" over the last several days.

" 'Only Justin would want to be the best at Rubix cube,' and 'Only Justin would be able to wear such ugly hats and make them look cool,' " McLean said.

Justin was stubborn and determined, she told the mourners. He also had a life motto. "Don't suck because if you suck, life sucks," she said. "He chose not to suck at anything."

From his feats at tossing a Propel water bottle from any angle to his acceptance and entrance scholarship at University of New Brunswick, Justin determined his own success, she said.

Brains to match the brawn

Javier Acevedo's close friend Tania Nguyen told the crowd she always thought "we'd grow old together."

"I never thought we'd have to do this," Nguyen said.

Every memory starts with his smile, she said, adding that his hugs made any day seem just a little bit brighter.

Javier had only made the basketball team for the first time this season.

"I could hear the pride and sense of accomplishment in your voice when you said you had made the Phantoms basketball team. Next step — the Toronto Raptors. You could have done anything you put your mind to."

Javier had the brains to match the brawn and was an actor, too, she said, though his dancing skills left something to be desired.

His friends will miss the laughter Javier brought into their lives, she added.

Daniel Hains was remembered for his big heart and broad shoulders.

"It took a body that big to hold a heart like Dan's," his friend Emma Mackey said. He was always the first to remind family and friends that things weren't really that bad, the mourners were told, and he would go out of his way to earn a smile and a laugh.

Hains would have turned 18 on Tuesday.

Nicholas Kelly was remembered by his godmother as a quiet boy who was a dream student to his teachers and a role model to his younger brother.

His godmother, Christine Blanchard-Robichaud, also recalled a comment Nicholas once made to her: "We should all live our lives like it was the last day of school. We should all be very happy."

'Full of life and laughter'

Nick Quinn was remembered for his sense of humour by his soccer coach Alex Proctor.

"Nicky led a full life, even though it was short," Proctor said. "It was full of life and laughter."

Proctor recalled naming Nick the captain of the soccer team and telling him he would have to take care of the younger players. Nick said it was like the job of a super hero and came to the next match dressed in a cape reading Captain Super Cool, he said.

"Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity," Proctor said, quoting the late American author, Henry Van Dyke.

Be the light of the world, bishop says

Rev. Valéry Vienneau, bishop of the diocese of Bathurst, read a message to the community sent on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI.

The pontiff sent his sincere condolences to the community and said his prayers are with those who died and their families.

The young men belong to Christ, not to death, Vienneau told the mourners.

"It is OK to be sad that we do not see them anymore but it would be wrong to think that we will not see them ever again," he said.

Vienneau told the students that the basketball players are an example to them and challenged them to follow that example to be lights in their community and the world.

"The best way to honour your seven friends is to look up to Jesus for inspiration and appreciate profoundly and fully the gift of life," he said.

As the ceremony continued, Go Now in Peace was sung as students dressed in Phantom team colours and jackets placed roses in vases on the coffins of their classmates.

"Go now in peace, never be afraid; God will go with you each hour of every day," the choir sang. "Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true; Know He will guide you in all you do. Go now in love, and show you believe; Reach out to others so all the world can see. God will be there, watching from above. Go now in peace, in faith, and in love."

As the ceremony drew to an end, the lights at the arena dimmed and candles lit up the rows of seats as the procession left to the chorus of You Raise Me Up.

Mourners waited hours

Mourners had waited hours before being let inside, where they passed under two basketball nets before taking their seats in the town's largest facility, hung with black drapes and with red carpet covering the ice surface.

A choir of 130 members of the community sang "God is love, and all who live in love, live in God" as the procession entered the building.

At the front of the facility, the seven coffins of Bathurst's "boys in red" were lined up on a raised stage, covered in flowers, photos and their team numbers.

Among the mourners was Grade 11 student Bradd Arseneau, one of the four survivors of the horrific crash. He walked away from the incident with four broken ribs and a bruised lung.

The Moncton High School Purple Knights, against whom the Phantoms had competed before the crash, were also at the service.

A private funeral for Lord will take place on Thursday.