Tragedy Strikes Home

The world remembers the tragic bus crash that killed 16 Humboldt Bronco hockey players and that’s something that no one will ever forget.

When it strikes close to home it seem’s more surreal to those whom it has had a direct impact on and in this case it’s the BCHL Surrey Eagles hockey club.

The Eagles lost not only a talented player, but a member of the team, a member of the community and a fan favourite.

Eagles President Chuck Westgard mentioned that they will retire the number 10 and mentioned that it will go up into the rafters, but any official plan is still being worked out.

Jaxon was killed along with Broncos Captain Logan Schatz as well as the Head Coach Darch Haugan when the bus collided with a semi-truck on route to a SJHL playoff game.

Former Surrey Eagle player Jaxon Joseph wore number 10 during his 21 games he played for the Eagles in 2015-16 and in a special pre-game ceremony his number 10 will be raised to the rafters.

Jaxon was the son of former Vancouver Canuck “D-man” Chris and played 38 regular season games, scoring 25 goals while adding 7 additional goals in 9 playoff games for the Broncos.

Jaxon played Junior B in the KIJHL for the Beaver Valley NiteHawks and was picked up by the Eagles during the season, scoring 5 goals during his time with Surrey.

The following season he attended the Eagles training camp but was traded to the Melfort Mustangs in the SJHL prior to the start of the season.

There he played 50 games in 2016-17 managing to score 11 goals and was traded to Humboldt earlier this season.

The Eagles will retire the number 10 in what is expected to be an emotional night at the South Surrey Arena.

You might remember that this past season Caige Sterzer wore number 10 for the Eagles and everyone know’s that changing his number simply won’t be an issue for Caige.

The Eagles have retired one other number and that was in honor of Jeff Nabseth who wore number 8 and was killed in a cycling accident on Vancouver Island in 1999.