The province of Saskatchewan is in shock as it mourns the loss of 15 people who were killed Friday when a junior hockey team’s bus collided with a truck.

The Humboldt Broncos were on their way to a game at the time when the collision occured north of the town of Tisdale, northeast of Saskatoon.

Among those killed were the team’s coach and its captain.

Fifteen people were taken to hospital, three of them in critical condition: one later died.

Toronto Maple Leaf coach Mike Babcock, a Saskatchewan native, was in tears when he spoke about the tragedy following a Saturday morning practice. Babcock said “it’s got to rip the heart out of your chest.”

Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly played his junior hockey in Saskatchewan, and says it helped him gain appreciation for the kind of who come from there.

Players, former players, coaches and hockey teams from across North America have been sending their condolences to the community and to those who are grieving.