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Hitching a ride on the well-travelled hockey road

By: Photography by John Woods Posted: Last Modified:

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It’s a Canadian hockey rite. Junior teams criss-cross the country through all kinds of weather and highway conditions.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/02/2019 (2030 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s a Canadian hockey rite. Junior teams criss-cross the country through all kinds of weather and highway conditions.

For those in the bus driver’s seat, it’s just part of the job, but the memory of the Humboldt tragedy is never too distant in the rear-view mirror. 

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Highway closures, treacherous conditions all in a day's work for hockey-team bus drivers
JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Roger Hamelin, a bus driver with Beaver Bus Lines, updates his log book on his bus as players head into the arena at Waywayseecappo.

Beaver Bus Lines driver Roger Hamelin prepares his logs for what turned out to be an 18-hour day to Waywayseecappo and back Sunday, February 24, 2019.
Beaver Bus Lines driver Roger Hamelin prepares his logs for what turned out to be an 18-hour day to Waywayseecappo and back Sunday, February 24, 2019.

On Feb. 24, Free Press photographer John Woods climbed aboard with driver Roger Hamelin and the Steinbach Pistons for a MJHL road trip to Waywayseecappo First Nation.

Hamelin’s day began at 9:30 a.m. with a bus inspection at the Beaver Bus Lines depot in St. Boniface before travelling an hour south to get the team.

It was supposed to be a four-hour trip to Wawayseecappo, not including a scheduled pre-game meal in Neepawa. But by noon, the bus was stuck in a long convey of cars and semi-trucks at Headingley after the Trans-Canada Highway was closed for 3.5 hours.

Hamelin finally got the Pistons to their game, although it started two hours later than scheduled.

Following the 1-0 loss to the host Wolverines, the boys on the bus began their journey home, arriving safe and sound at 3 a.m. the following day.

Hamelin hangs a team banner in his bus.
Hamelin hangs a team banner in his bus.
Hamelin prepares his logs on his bus.
Hamelin prepares his logs on his bus.
Hamelin inspects his bus for the drive to Steinbach to pick up the Steinbach Pistons, then to Waywayseecappo and back.
Hamelin inspects his bus for the drive to Steinbach to pick up the Steinbach Pistons, then to Waywayseecappo and back.
Hamelin continues inspecting his bus.
Hamelin continues inspecting his bus.
Hamelin inspects the bus interior.
Hamelin inspects the bus interior.
Hamelin drives his bus in challenging conditions to Steinbach to pick up the Pistons.
Hamelin drives his bus in challenging conditions to Steinbach to pick up the Pistons.
Steinbach Pistons forward Troy Beauchemin carries gear to the bus for the ride to Waywayseecappo where the team played against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
Steinbach Pistons forward Troy Beauchemin carries gear to the bus for the ride to Waywayseecappo where the team played against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
Pistons players move gear to the bus for the ride to Waywayseecappo and back.
Pistons players move gear to the bus for the ride to Waywayseecappo and back.
Pistons head coach Paul Dyck talks on the phone as assistant coach Calvin Bugyik, left, and forward Troy Beauchemin go over game film during the bus ride to Waywayseecappo.
Pistons head coach Paul Dyck talks on the phone as assistant coach Calvin Bugyik, left, and forward Troy Beauchemin go over game film during the bus ride to Waywayseecappo.
Pistons forward Max Neill looks around as other players relax during the bus ride.
Pistons forward Max Neill looks around as other players relax during the bus ride.
Hamelin, along with other truck drivers, wait for 3.5 hours in Headingley, MB for the road to open so he can drive his bus to Waywayseecappo.
Hamelin, along with other truck drivers, wait for 3.5 hours in Headingley, MB for the road to open so he can drive his bus to Waywayseecappo.
Hamelin and the team continues to wait in Headingley for the road to open.
Hamelin and the team continues to wait in Headingley for the road to open.
JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Roger Hamelin, a bus driver with Beaver Bus Lines, and truck drivers wait for 3.5 hours in Headingley for the road to open so he can drive his bus to Waywayseecappo and back Sunday, February 24, 2019. Hamelin drove from Winnipeg to Steinbach to pick up the Steinbach Pistons and then onto Waywayseecappo where they played the Waywayseecappo Wolverines and then back to Winnipeg in what turned out to be an eighteen hour day.
JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Roger Hamelin, a bus driver with Beaver Bus Lines, and truck drivers wait for 3.5 hours in Headingley for the road to open so he can drive his bus to Waywayseecappo and back Sunday, February 24, 2019. Hamelin drove from Winnipeg to Steinbach to pick up the Steinbach Pistons and then onto Waywayseecappo where they played the Waywayseecappo Wolverines and then back to Winnipeg in what turned out to be an eighteen hour day.
As Hamelin continues to wait for the highway to open, the players and some of the coaches retreat into their smartphones to listen to Spotify or watch Netflix.
As Hamelin continues to wait for the highway to open, the players and some of the coaches retreat into their smartphones to listen to Spotify or watch Netflix.
A Pistons player sleeps as the bus remains at a standstill, waiting for the highway to open.
A Pistons player sleeps as the bus remains at a standstill, waiting for the highway to open.
Hamelin and Pistons head coach Paul Dyck get advice from another bus driver as they wait for 3.5 hours in Headingley for the road to open.
Hamelin and Pistons head coach Paul Dyck get advice from another bus driver as they wait for 3.5 hours in Headingley for the road to open.
Pistons players sleep during the bus ride to Waywayseecappo.
Pistons players sleep during the bus ride to Waywayseecappo.
A Neepawa restaurant closes a section for the Pistons to eat their pre-game meal.
A Neepawa restaurant closes a section for the Pistons to eat their pre-game meal.
As players eat a pre-game meal, Hamelin buys a sub sandwich that he will eat on his bus.
As players eat a pre-game meal, Hamelin buys a sub sandwich that he will eat on his bus.
Pistons defenceman Burke Heide and his teammates start putting their dress clothes on about 10 mins outside of town during the bus ride to Waywayseecappo.
Pistons defenceman Burke Heide and his teammates start putting their dress clothes on about 10 mins outside of town during the bus ride to Waywayseecappo.
Hamelin updates his logbook on his bus as players head into the arena at Waywayseecappo.
Hamelin updates his logbook on his bus as players head into the arena at Waywayseecappo.
Pistons players carry their gear into the Waywayseecappo arena for the game against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
Pistons players carry their gear into the Waywayseecappo arena for the game against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
Pistons players carry their gear into the Waywayseecappo arena.
Pistons players carry their gear into the Waywayseecappo arena.
Hamelin talks to head office as he waits as the Pistons play against the Wolverines.
Hamelin talks to head office as he waits as the Pistons play against the Wolverines.
Hamelin takes a break on his bus as the Pistons play against the Wolverines.
Hamelin takes a break on his bus as the Pistons play against the Wolverines.
Pistons players prepare their sticks inside Waywayseecappo arena prior to the game.
Pistons players prepare their sticks inside Waywayseecappo arena prior to the game.
Pistons head coach Paul Dyck talks to his players inside their dressing room prior to their game.
Pistons head coach Paul Dyck talks to his players inside their dressing room prior to their game.
Pistons defenceman Caydin Cleland hits the ice for warmup in Waywayseecappo arena prior to their game.
Pistons defenceman Caydin Cleland hits the ice for warmup in Waywayseecappo arena prior to their game.
Pistons equipment manager Ryan Dyck looks on as Troy Beauchemin stretches during warmup.
Pistons equipment manager Ryan Dyck looks on as Troy Beauchemin stretches during warmup.
Young fans
Young fans "high five" the Pistons as they hit the ice for second-period action.
Spectators watch as the Pistons and Wolverines hit the ice for second-period action.
Spectators watch as the Pistons and Wolverines hit the ice for second-period action.
A Piston player looks on during third-period action against the Wolverines.
A Piston player looks on during third-period action against the Wolverines.
The Pistons leave the ice after losing to the Wolverines.
The Pistons leave the ice after losing to the Wolverines.
Hamelin talks to head office as players load his bus after their game.
Hamelin talks to head office as players load his bus after their game.
Pistons load their gear onto the bus after their game.
Pistons load their gear onto the bus after their game.
The Pistons continue loading onto the bus after losing their game.
The Pistons continue loading onto the bus after losing their game.
Hamelin helps load bags onto his bus.
Hamelin helps load bags onto his bus.
Hamelin talks to head office as players load onto his bus after their game.
Hamelin talks to head office as players load onto his bus after their game.
Hamelin gives a
Hamelin gives a "thumbs up" to make sure all players are on board his bus as he prepares to leave Waywayseecappo.
The Pistons eat their after-game meal on the bus.
The Pistons eat their after-game meal on the bus.
About to meet his daily driving limit, Hamelin pulls his bus into a Portage La Prairie shopping mall lot to meet his relief driver, Gary Kansky, who will take over the drive to the depot.
About to meet his daily driving limit, Hamelin pulls his bus into a Portage La Prairie shopping mall lot to meet his relief driver, Gary Kansky, who will take over the drive to the depot.
Hamelin sits in
Hamelin sits in "relief vehicle" in a Portage La Prairie shopping mall after his relief driver, Gary Kansky, takes over the drive to the depot.
Hamelin completes his daily log at the Beaver Bus Lines depot.
Hamelin completes his daily log at the Beaver Bus Lines depot.
After an 18-hour day, Hamelin heads home from the depot.
After an 18-hour day, Hamelin heads home from the depot.

John Woods
Photojournalist

   Read full biography

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

John Woods
Photojournalist

   Read full biography

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

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