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Vol. 7 Edition 5
‘Humboldt Strong’ reaches ’Burg
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020
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Birds of a feather
By Pam Wright Special to The Voice
Kaleb Dahlgren’s actions personify what it means to “stay strong and carry on.” In fact, the 22-year-old York University student is Humboldt Strong – a survivor of a horrific crash in Saskatchewan on April 6, 2018 that killed 16 people affiliated with the Broncos Junior ‘A’ hockey team. Thirteen, including Dahlgren, were seriously injured. Dahlgren, who uses obstacles in his life as motivation, brought his powerful message of resilience to Chatham-Kent Saturday as the guest speaker at the 39th annual Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame event. “Everyone has battles,” he told the sold-out crowd at the UAW hall. “The most important thing is to enjoy the grind. Enjoy it for what it is,” he said. “Control the things you can control.” Dahlgren, an assistant captain who plays centre and right wing, had his ear buds in and was changing the music when the team bus — enroute to a playoff game against the Nipawin Hawks — was struck by a tractor-trailer whose driver missed a stop sign. Ten players were killed, along with the Bronco’s head coach and assistant coach, the team’s athletic therapist, a broadcaster and volunteer statistician, as well as the bus driver. Despite a third-degree brain injury, Dahlgren regained consciousness three days later with his parents at his side. He couldn’t remember what had happened and thought maybe he had been hit from behind in the game. Continued on page 3
Mike Nicholson/Special to The Chatham Voice
Two bald eagles sit watchful from a treetop at the western end of Dyke Road in South Kent recently. The pair has regularly been spotted in the area for several years, and are believed to nest in a wooded area off Communications Road near Shrewsbury.