Davis: Documentary film about Swift Current Broncos bus crash invokes painful memories
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It's jarring to hear James speak about quickly and heartlessly moving the team forward, past the tragedy and back onto the ice, because everyone now knows the coach was a predator who was sent to prison for sexually assaulting several of his players. James didn't want anyone — particularly psychologists — to comfort his players and discover the hidden secrets that made worse the trauma they suffered from losing teammates Scott Kruger, Trent Kresse, Brent Ruff and Chris Mantyka.
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Wilkie is the president of I Got Mind, a company that according to its website 'provides valuable educational programming that enhances wellness, strengthens cultures, and increases performance for any team or individual.' Working with Trilight Entertainment, initially there were plans to make a movie about the Broncos before postponing that notion to produce the documentary, develop a podcast and establish a '4 The Boys Scholarship.'
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Wilkie has been working in the mental health field for 20 years — strengthened on his path by his marriage to Michaelynn and their two children — while working with athletes, coaches, parents, schools and businesses. Wilkie and Soberlak also visited with families following the Humboldt Broncos fatal bus crash in 2018.
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'When we go through life there are things we don't like and we try to leave them in the past,' said Wilkie. 'This is everything, front and centre. That's the hard part for a lot of people. They can't be vulnerable to share their story.
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'It is uncomfortable to share your story. But there's power in it.'
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Including Wednesday's showing at the Saskatchewan Science Centre in Regina, there have been sneak previews to help raise money for the projects. According to Andrea Hoffman, one of the executive producers, Sideways will officially premiere Sept. 8 at the Hockey Hall of Fame, with hopes it will be accepted into the Toronto International Film Festival.
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'I still can't watch it too much because it's so emotional, knowing the impact it's going to have on people who watch it,' said Wilkie. 'It's a story of trauma and healing for young men and a community who experienced something horrific.
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