Former NHL defenseman Chris Joseph says he was 鈥渟o proud鈥� of his son Jaxon, who was one of 15 people killed in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash.
In an interview with TSN, Joseph said that his son was 鈥渘ever the star, never the grinder, but very flexible.鈥�
鈥淓very team he鈥檚 played on, he鈥檚 always been described as a glue guy,鈥� said the former Edmonton Oilers player.
鈥淲e always hoped that he would go further and further,鈥� Joseph added.
Joseph said he had been to the funeral home twice to see Jaxon鈥檚 body since the collision between a semi truck and the team鈥檚 bus south of Nipawin, Sask., on Friday night.
鈥淚 kissed him and told him, 鈥榃e鈥檙e so proud. We鈥檙e so proud,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 just a good kid. Everybody really just loved him.鈥�
Jaxon, who was 20 years old and spent two seasons with the Melfort Mustangs before joining the Broncos in 2017, was one of the leading scorers in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoffs.
In total, 10 Broncos players and five others were killed after the collision. Fourteen others were injured and 12 of them remained in a Saskatoon hospital Monday night, including four in critical condition.
Joseph said he鈥檚 not sure how he鈥檒l get through the pain but he knows the 鈥渉ockey family鈥� will help.
鈥淔or me, the hockey community is so, so small and we鈥檙e so tight,鈥� he said. 鈥淗ockey players go and they battle for two hours and after the game is over there鈥檚 much respect for everybody.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檝e got all sorts of support and we鈥檙e not afraid to lean on them,鈥� Joseph added.
鈥淚 was a bit of a hugger before. I鈥檓 a bigtime hugger now,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y son Brett got out of the car the other day and he was going to walk past me and I said, 鈥榃hoa, hold it right there.鈥� Gave him a big hug,鈥� he said.
鈥淪o I鈥檒l be hugging everybody.鈥�
With files from TSN鈥檚 Ryan Rishaug and The Canadian Press
