SASKATOON — The athletic therapist for the Humboldt Broncos has become the 16th person to die following a horrific bus crash in Saskatchewan last week.

Relatives of Dayna Brons, 24, said they will remember her "joyful smile."

Brons died Wednesday afternoon in a Saskatoon hospital from injuries sustained in Friday’s crash.

"She was surrounded by those she loved and those who loved her," her family said in a statement. "Dayna will be forever remembered for her joyful smile, and her passion and love of sport."

The team was on its way to a playoff game when the bus collided with a semi truck at an intersection near Tisdale, Sask.

Brons, who was from Lake Lenore, Sask., suffered serious head trauma and had undergone two surgeries.

She had been on a breathing apparatus and was in an induced coma.

Brons was extremely proud to be part of the Broncos team, her family said.

"Dayna’s family would like to thank the first responders, emergency staff, and all those who have cared for Dayna over these last few days for their support. And, they would like to thank everyone across Saskatchewan and Canada for their love and prayers during this very difficult time," the family said.

The family requested privacy as it grieves.

Former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy said he spent about half an hour with Brons and her family when he visited the victims of the bus crash last week.

"We spent a lot of time in that room and it’s just sad," said Kennedy, who has farmland in Saskatchewan.

He said Dayna was asleep while he was there but he visited with her family.

"I think there was hope for everyone but the injuries on that accident were significant for everyone."

"I was pulling for her. I was just hoping that she’d get through that."

Lacrosse and soccer teams that Brons also worked with had offered their support for the keen, happy trainer on social media. So did Canadian women’s hockey Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser.

"’The only girl on the boys team’ … Dayna I’ve been thinking of you a lot! Praying you pull through," she said.

After the news was released by her family, Wickenheiser expressed her condolences.

"The worst news," she wrote. "RIP Dayna. The boys will take care of you up there."

The Saskatchewan Roughriders organization also expressed its condolences.

The team said Dayna worked with the Riders during 2016 training camp.

"We are saddened to learn of the passing of Dayna Brons," the team said.

Athletic therapist Neal Demmans, who used to work with the Broncos, met Brons when they both ended up working with the Saskatoon Swat lacrosse program in 2015.

She was a happy person who was always willing to learn more, he said.

And as athletic trainers, they were always treated like teammates.

"We were the first ones there and the last ones to leave," he said.

He fondly remembers how some coaches joked about Brons head butting an out-of-control mother during a tournament.

"Of course this was just them teasing Dayna because she’s such a nice person," he said.

"I think that’s what I would like to focus on — her smile in that moment."

Demmans said when the Broncos needed a new trainer, he suggested Brons and she joined them last year.

He knew she would have no problem working with a group of male hockey players.

Brons graduated from University of Regina, where she got a degree in Kinesiology and Health Studies. She also took an advanced certificate in Athletic Therapy at Mount Royal University in Calgary.</s>SASKATOON — A woman who worked as a trainer for the Humboldt Broncos hockey team and was on a bus that crashed last week has died.

The family of Dayna Brons says the 25-year-old died this afternoon in Saskatoon hospital from injuries sustained in Friday’s crash.

Her death brings the total number of dead to 16.

Her family says she will be remembered for her smile and her love of sports.

They say she was very proud to be part of the Broncos team.

The team was on its way to a playoff game when the bus collided with a semi truck at an intersection near Tisdale, Sask.
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• #PutYourStickOut: Humboldt tributes from around the world</s>SASKATOON — A woman who worked as a trainer for the Humboldt Broncos hockey team and was on a bus that crashed last week has died.

The family of Dayna Brons says the 25-year-old died this afternoon in Saskatoon hospital from injuries sustained in Friday’s crash.

Her death brings the total number of dead to 16.

Her family says she will be remembered for her smile and her love of sports.

They say she was very proud to be part of the Broncos team.

The team was on its way to a playoff game when the bus collided with a semi truck at an intersection near Tisdale, Sask.</s>SASKATOON — A woman who worked as a trainer for the Humboldt Broncos hockey team and was on a bus that crashed last week has died.

The family of Dayna Brons says the 25-year-old died this afternoon in Saskatoon hospital from injuries sustained in Friday's crash.

Her death brings the total number of dead to 16.

Her family says she will be remembered for her smile and her love of sports.</s>The death toll in a Canadian bus crash involving a junior hockey team has risen to 16 after a woman who worked as trainer for the team died.

The family of Dayna Brons says the 25-year-old died Wednesday in Saskatoon hospital from injuries sustained in the accident.

Her family says she will be remembered for her smile and her love of sports. They say she was very proud to be part of the Humboldt Broncos team.

The team was on its way to a playoff game Friday when the bus collided with a semi-trailer at an intersection near Tisdale, Saskatchewan.</s>Humboldt Broncos athletic therapist Dayna Brons has died of injuries she sustained in Friday’s crash.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority sent a statement Wednesday afternoon on behalf of her family.

“The family of Dayna Brons would like to share that Dayna passed away peacefully this afternoon as a result of her injuries. She was surrounded by those she loved and those who loved her,” the statement read. “Dayna will be forever remembered for her joyful smile, and her passion and love of sport. She was the Athletic Therapist for the Humboldt Broncos and was extremely proud to be part of the Broncos family.”

Twenty-nine people were on the Broncos team bus, which was travelling to Nipawin for a playoff game against the Hawks on Friday evening, when the bus was hit by a semi on Highway 35 near Tisdale.

Brons, who was from Lake Lenore, Sask., is the 16th of the 29 people to die as a result of the crash.

“Dayna’s family would like to thank the first responders, emergency staff, and all those who have cared for Dayna over these last few days for their support. And, they would like to thank everyone across Saskatchewan and Canada for their love and prayers during this very difficult time,” the statement read.

A total of 11 other people are still in hospital, as of information shared Wednesday. Three are in critical condition.</s>SASKATOON — The athletic therapist for the Humboldt Broncos became the 16th person to die following a horrific bus crash in Saskatchewan last week.

Relatives of Dayna Brons of the 25-year-old say they will remember her for "joyful smile.''

They say Brons died Wednesday afternoon in a Saskatoon hospital from injuries sustained in Friday's crash.

"She was surrounded by those she loved and those who loved her,'' her family said in a statement. "Dayna will be forever remembered for her joyful smile, and her passion and love of sport.''

The team was on its way to a playoff game when the bus collided with a semi truck at an intersection near Tisdale, Sask.

Brons, who was from Lake Lenore, Sask., suffered serious head trauma and had undergone two surgeries.

She had been on a breathing apparatus and was in an induced coma.

Brons was extremely proud to be part of the Broncos team, her family said.

Liam Richards/CANADIAN PRESS A memorial at the stairs that lead to Elgar Petersen Arena is shown in Humboldt, Sask., on April 7, 2018.

"Dayna's family would like to thank the first responders, emergency staff, and all those who have cared for Dayna over these last few days for their support. And, they would like to thank everyone across Saskatchewan and Canada for their love and prayers during this very difficult time,'' the family said.

The family requested privacy as it grieves.

Former NHLer Sheldon Kennedy extended his condolences on Twitter.

"I am devastated to hear of the passing of 25-year-old Dayna Brons,'' Kennedy said. "I met Dayna and her family and I know the love they have for one another.''

Lacrosse and soccer teams that Brons also worked with had offered their support for the keen, happy trainer on social media. So did Canadian women's hockey Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser.

"'The only girl on the boys team' ... Dayna I've been thinking of you a lot! Praying you pull through,'' she said.

Brons graduated from University of Regina, where she got a degree in Kinesiology and Health Studies. She also took an advanced certificate in Athletic Therapy at Mount Royal University in Calgary.

She joined the Broncos in 2016, according to media reports.</s>The Humboldt Broncos’ trainer, a 24-year-old woman who had been with the team for almost two years, has died, Saskatchewan’s coroner announced Wednesday — bringing the death toll from the team bus’s collision with a semi-trailer to 16.

Dayna Brons had been listed in critical condition since last Friday’s crash. Her family previously said she had undergone two surgeries and was in a medically induced coma.

She died Wednesday afternoon, her family confirmed in a statement distributed by the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

“Dayna will be forever remembered for her joyful smile, and her passion and love of sport,” the family’s statement said.



Explainer: What we know so far about the Humboldt Broncos bus crash

Read more: What we know about the Humboldt bus crash victims

Ms. Brons, who grew up on a farm near Lake Lenore, Sask., joined the team as an athletic therapist and equipment manager in the summer of 2016. When she was hired, she said that her own love of sports and being active led her into the field of athletic therapy. She studied kinesiology at the University of Regina, and had worked for a lacrosse team in Saskatoon before joining the Broncos.

While in university, Ms. Brons created Let’s Warm Up!, an online book to teach 8- to 10-year-olds about warming up before playing sports.

Lacrosse and soccer teams that Ms. Brons also worked with offered their support for the keen, happy trainer on social media. So did Canadian women’s hockey Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser.

″‘The only girl on the boys team’ ... Dayna I’ve been thinking of you a lot! Praying you pull through,” she said.

Ms. Brons is among 16 people, including 10 players between the ages of 16 to 21, who have died since the bus and a semi-trailer collided while the team was travelling to Nipawin for a Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoff game.

Almost a dozen people remain in hospital in Saskatoon with injuries, some of which are life-threatening.

The driver of the semi-trailer survived.

The RCMP continue to investigate the cause of the crash and have not speculated on a cause.

The truck belonged to Adesh Deol Trucking Ltd., a small Calgary-based trucking firm with two trucks. The company has been taken off the road by Alberta Transportation, which said its decision to suspend the company’s safety fitness certificate was routine.

Meanwhile, an online fundraising campaign to help the survivors and the families of the victims has raised $8.7-million as of Wednesday afternoon.

A previous version of this story said Dayna Brons was 25. In fact, she was 24.</s>SASKATOON — The athletic therapist for the Humboldt Broncos has become the 16th person to die following a horrific bus crash in Saskatchewan last week.

Relatives of Dayna Brons, 24, said they will remember her “joyful smile.”

Brons died Wednesday afternoon in a Saskatoon hospital from injuries sustained in Friday’s crash.

“She was surrounded by those she loved and those who loved her,” her family said in a statement. “Dayna will be forever remembered for her joyful smile, and her passion and love of sport.”

The team was on its way to a playoff game when the bus collided with a semi truck at an intersection near Tisdale, Sask.

Brons, who was from Lake Lenore, Sask., suffered serious head trauma and had undergone two surgeries.

She had been on a breathing apparatus and was in an induced coma.

Brons was extremely proud to be part of the Broncos team, her family said.

“Dayna’s family would like to thank the first responders, emergency staff, and all those who have cared for Dayna over these last few days for their support. And, they would like to thank everyone across Saskatchewan and Canada for their love and prayers during this very difficult time,” the family said.

The family requested privacy as it grieves.

Former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy said in an interview that he spent about half an hour with Brons and her family when he visited the victims of the bus crash last week.

“We spent a lot of time in that room and it’s just sad, just sad,” said Kennedy, who has farmland in Saskatchewan.

He said Dayna was asleep while he was there but he visited with her family.

“I think there was hope for everyone but the injuries on that accident were significant for everyone.”

“It’s just sad. I was pulling for her. I was just hoping that she’d get through that.”

Lacrosse and soccer teams that Brons also worked with had offered their support for the keen, happy trainer on social media. So did Canadian women’s hockey Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser.

“‘The only girl on the boys team’ … Dayna I’ve been thinking of you a lot! Praying you pull through,” she said.

After the news was released by her family, Wickenheiser expressed her condolences.

“The worst news,” she wrote. “RIP Dayna. The boys will take care of you up there.”

Brons graduated from University of Regina, where she got a degree in Kinesiology and Health Studies. She also took an advanced certificate in Athletic Therapy at Mount Royal University in Calgary.

She joined the Broncos in 2016, according to media reports.</s>The athletic therapist for the Humboldt Broncos has become the 16th person to die following a horrific bus crash in Canada last week.

Relatives of 24-year-old Dayna Brons said they will remember her "joyful smile."

Brons died Wednesday afternoon in a saskatoon hospital from injuries sustained in Friday's crash.

"I was feeling hopeful. In fact, I had texted my kids saying that it looks optimistic from here," said Bron's aunt Audrey Hopfner. "I would not want to be the person that caused this. Like, what do you say to that? He didn't mean to do this."

The team was on its way to a playoff game when the bus collided with a semi truck.

Brons suffered serious head trauma and had undergone two surgeries. She had been on a breathing apparatus and was in an induced coma.
The athletic therapist for the Humboldt Broncos, Dayna Brons, dies from injuries sustained in the crash, raising the death toll to 16.