Chants of 'Go Broncos' fill arena at funeral for underdog hockey player Jacob Leicht

Chants of "Go Broncos Go" rang through the rafters during a young hockey player's funeral on Friday after his mother asked mourners to cheer for him one last time at his home rink.

Celeste Leicht asked the 2,500 people who filled Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt, Sask., to chant 11 times, followed by 11 seconds of horns and noisemakers, to honour the jersey number of her son, Jacob Leicht.   

"I think it will be a beautiful send-off to my beautiful boy," she said.

The 19-year-old was one of 16 people who died after a transport truck and a bus carrying the Humboldt junior hockey team collided last Friday at a rural Saskatchewan intersection.

I know we have a long hard road ahead of us and for that reason, we need something to cling to.- Celeste Leicht, mother of Jacob Leicht

Family friend and former coach Shaun Gardiner said Leicht wasn't a big player, but what he lacked in size he made up for in hard work.

"Jacob was the classic underdog hockey player that everybody roots for. He was a fluid and fast skater despite being smaller in stature than his peers," Gardiner said.

"He had the drive and the will to allow him to earn ice time, opportunities and playing time with all the teams he ever played for."

Celeste Leicht thanked the community and the rest of Canada for the kindness and support the family has received.   

"I do know we are going to have a lot of dark moments. I know we have a long hard road ahead of us and for that reason we need something to cling to," she said.

"You're here to provide your respects to truly honour our son. I ask you to commit yourself to making connections and building relationships."

There was applause several times during the service, including for three surviving Broncos, one of them in a wheelchair, who were able to attend.

A display in the foyer included dozens of photos, Leicht's No. 11 jersey, a Broncos hat and a picture of a smiling boy kneeling in front of a hockey net. It was paired with a small handprint dated 2002.

Helen Friesen-Ebert came with her family to pay respects. She said the send-off for Jacob was appropriate.

"It was nice and I truly think, not that I knew Jacob, I have a feeling he got it and he heard it."

Carrot River remembers Glen Doerksen  

It was standing room only at the funeral for Glen Doerksen in Carrot River's community hall, which was also held Friday.

Doerksen, 59, was driving the team's bus to a junior hockey playoff game in Nipawin when there was a collision with a
semi-trailer.

The line to get into the community hall for the service stretched around the building and the doors had to be held open to accommodate everyone.

A man placed two trade union flags with pictures of buses at the entrance of the parking lot.

Among the attendees were two RCMP officers wearing their red serges and a group of men wearing hockey jerseys.

Reporters were asked not to attend the service.

Shortly after Amazing Grace was played, a man carried an urn from the hall and a woman held Doerksen's picture as they entered a limousine.

Doerksen was described by his employer, Charlie's Charters, as an "outstanding friend, husband, and father," in a recent Facebook post.