Sudden Death: The Incredible Saga of the 1986 Swift Current Broncos

On December 30, 1986, a bus carrying the Western Hockey League’s Swift Current Broncos skidded off the Trans-Canadian Highway in a snowstorm, killing four of the team’s players. The Broncos are a Canadian junior team in which the young men are teenagers with dreams of playing in the NHL. A witness to the crash who also helped injured players, Leesa Culp, wrote this powerful book to tell the story about that night and some of the players who were on that bus.There are many reasons that this tragedy is still remembered thirty years later. One is the sheer amount of talent on that team. Five players were drafted by NHL teams, four of them (Joe Sakic, Peter Soberlak, Ryan McGill and Bob Wilkie) within the first 44 selections. Another talented player on the team, Sheldon Kennedy, was also profiled in the book as well because the triumph of the team winning the 1989 Memorial Trophy as the best junior team only three years after the tragedy was overshadowed by his revelation that coach Graham James had been sexually abusing Kennedy.That sad story is discussed at the end of the book and just like the crash, the story needed to be told. But it did not take away anything from the stories of the crash survivors, one of whom was a co-author of the book, Bob Wilkie. To read about what those young men endured without counseling and how they came back to not only finish the season but to start a championship run two short years later is truly amazing.The four players killed (Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger, Chris Mantyka and Brent Ruff, younger brother of current Dallas Stars coach Lindsey Ruff) are always on the minds of the players throughout the book and each one has a brief write-up. Because the book is about the surviving players and also Culp, who was invited to all reunions and events that involved the players on that bus, the stories were all the more moving in their authenticity and genuine emotion.One last aspect of the book that I appreciated is that as an American hockey fan who is not familiar with the Canadian junior leagues, the book also was a good introduction to the player’s life in the juniors. It talked about the billeting families, the travel and the practices. Because these are young men in their teenage years, seeing it through their eyes as told to Culp was an education and has made me wish to learn more about these leagues.Anyone interested in the Canadian junior leagues, this team or even just hockey in general will enjoy this book – highly recommended.

this book is able to approach some very difficult, in fact, heart-wrenching stories in a sensitive and respectful fashion, and make for an interesting and informative read. Fans of Canada's western hockey league, and junior hockey in general will find it a captivating account of not only a tragedy, but of courage and achievement. The authors have been able to produce a book that is insightful without resorting to sensationalism, and achieve credibility and respect in how they were able to tell their personal story. A must-read for Canadian hockey players from young adult age and up, coaches and fans of today.

I didn't know what to expect from this book. I have supported WHL hockey from an American standpoint for over 30+ years. I remember the tragic bus crash in 1986, but only knew a bare fraction of the aftermath. Then there is the Graham James story on top of that. This book answered many, many questions about that very sad and awful affair. If you love sports history and especially of the great sport of North American ice hockey and especially so of the junior, pre-NHL developmental levels, this book is a must read, I highly recommend it.

Very sad event that was written about in a very powerful way. Junior hockey fans will surely enjoy this book.

The way this is put together is more like small news articles that connect. Each section or chapter say the exact same thing even reverting back to a previously mentioned view point. It didn't really tell me anymore about the tragic accident or those involved

Good read

An outstanding compilation of the event details! Congratulations to the writing team!I was very familiar with the landscape in Swift Current before and after the tragic bus accident, through my association with folks in the city during my tenure in the Saskatchewan hotel industry. Swift Current, was a very challenging community to "get to know", and it was even more of a challenge in the aftermath of the accident, then later in light of the findings associated with Graham James' illicit behaviours.Sudden Death brought me back to a time as a young man when I was keenly interested in the Western Hockey League, an interest I have maintained ever since. The names in the book are all relevant to me. I am proud of the young men who have survived this tragedy and flourished in their adult lives. It is truly unfortunate that the four youngsters killed in the accident never experienced the same opportunities.Thankfully, they are honoured to this day by both the Broncos and the WHL.Congratulations again to Leesa Culp, Bob Wilkie and Gregg Drinnan for this wonderful piece of work!

This follows the story of the lives of the players involved with the Broncos and the bus crash that changed there lives and the saga afterword

Compelling Cathartic Culmination! I found myself consumed within the stories eloquently articulated in this gripping narrative. I couldn't put it down. You don't have to love hockey to love reading this book. I trust your heart will be moved, as was mine!

I learned much more about the crash than I knew in the beginning. I could see the pain that the players and staff felt regarding the accident and Graham James.