Humboldt Broncos returning to junior hockey playoffs one year after fatal bus crash

Nearly a year ago, a trip to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoffs resulted in tragedy for the Humboldt Broncos. This year, there is triumph.

The hockey world was devastated on April 6, 2018, when 16 people -- including 10 players -- were killed when the team bus and a tractor-trailer collided in rural Saskatchewan on the way to a playoff game.

With only two returning players from last season, the Broncos were forced to rebuild their team of 16- to 21-year-olds. However, they battled back to post a 35-19-4 regular-season record and finish sixth in the league, good enough to make the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoffs.

The Broncos will play the Estevan Bruins in the first round on Friday.

The last of the 13 people injured in the crash was released from the hospital on Monday, 333 days after the accident. Morgan Gobeil is still unable to speak or walk, but his family "remains hopeful that those will be the kind of milestones we will someday be able to celebrate," the Saskatchewan Health Authority said in a statement.

The driver of the truck that collided with the Broncos bus, Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, pleaded guilty in January to all 29 counts of dangerous driving.