More than 1,000 people fill Airdrie hockey rink in support of injured Humboldt Broncos player

The hockey rink in Airdrie, Alta., where RyanStraschnitzkiused to practice was packed with more than 1,000 people clad in jerseys on Friday night for a candle light vigil in support oftheHumboldt Broncos player who was injured in last week's crash.

Cody Thompsonorganized the event and has been raising funds to supportStraschnitzki and his family by selling hats stitched with #strazstrongand a number 10 Straschnitzki's number with the Broncos.

• #StrazStrong hats raise funds to support Alberta player injured in Humboldt Broncos bus crash
• Visitation for Humboldt Bronco Logan Boulet draws dozens in Lethbridge, Alta.

Thompson told CBChis friend is doing well, all things considered.The 18-year-oldsuffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed, along with broken bones and internal damage.

"There's obviously pain involved, but he is making small improvements every day and that's all we can ask for at this point," he said.

He said he's not surprisedStraschnitzkihas proven to be such a fighter.

"That's the way Straz is, it's what made him such a special athlete and a special human being.

"He knows there's more to life than hockey and he still has a life to lead. There's not only an entire country but an entire community that spans as far as Europe that's behindhim and wants to see him succeed."

The hats are being sold on AirdrieMinor Hockey's online store. All proceeds are going to theStraschnitzkifamily.

Among those attending the vigil were Calgary Flames players Sean Monahan,T.J. Brodieand Travis Hamonicwho wore personalized #strazstrong Flames jerseys.

Thompson said some of the attendees at the vigil also knew Coach Darcy Haugan, who died in the collision.

He said the event was meant to both honour those lost and support those, likeStraschnitzki, that survived.

"It's one of those things we really struggle with the fact we're elated that our guy is OK, but it's not lost on us that a lot of other guys are not OK," he said. "There's a lot of players that are still here with us and that are going to be dealing with this for a long time."

The vigil wasn't the only Alberta memorial for the Broncos on Friday.

The OkotoksOilers and Spruce Grove Saints began their championship game with bowed heads and a moment of silence for their fellow players, and fans in the bleachers wore green ribbons on their hats and over their hearts. Proceeds from the ribbons were donated to the team.

A visitation was also held in Lethbridge for one of Straschnitzki'steammates, Logan Boulet, who died following the crash.

An organ donor, Boulet was kept on life support until matches could be found, helping six people.

• Okotoks Oilers vow to honour Humboldt with 'good hard clean hockey' in run for AJHL championship

The junior hockey team bus was headed to Nipawin, Sask., for a game on April 6 when a transport truck collided with it near Tisdale. Sixteen people were killed and 13 injured.

• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |Calgary police officer, athlete, mother saved people in both life and death
• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |Canmore man dies after being pinned behind car he was working on