The tragedy that befell the Humboldt Broncos sent shockwaves through the hockey world, and the ripples reached far and wide. For former Estevan Bruin Jason Miller, they hit particularly close to home.

Miller, who played with the Bruins in 2016-17, was a billet brother and dear friend to Conner Lukan. Lukan was killed in the April 6 bus crash that claimed 15 other lives.

"I brought him home when I was 16," Miller remembers. "He was 15 at the time. He was living with other billets, they were moving and he didn't have anywhere else to go, so I asked my parents if he could move in. He was the one kid who could make you laugh no matter what." 

Lukan and Miller played midget hockey together in Spruce Grove but met when they were in bantam. Lukan remained billeted with Miller's family during his three seasons with the Saints of the AJHL, while Miller was in Drayton Valley. In his final junior season, Miller played for Estevan and loved it. He told Lukan as much often.  

"I used to tell him every time I came home, Estevan is the best place I've ever been," said Miller. "That may have motivated him to play his last year out here. He was loving it in Humboldt."

Lukan and Miller were in regular contact through what would've been Lukan's final year of junior hockey. When he heard what happened to Humboldt, Miller was crestfallen. 

"I was driving back from Fort McMurray and I heard about the accident," Miller recounts. "I was around Edmonton when I heard (about how bad it was). I pulled over for about half an hour before I could gather myself to go home."  

When the news was finally confirmed, it came from one of Lukan's sisters after Miller tried every avenue to get information. "I called every hospital, I called every coach I could," Miller said. "I was just in disbelief. Conner was always the kid who got through everything. He always found a way to dodge a bullet. I just kept telling myself that he's made it through a lot worse." 

All that's left to Miller now are years worth of fond memories of a friend who became part of his family. His fondest memories, as with any good brother, are of giving Lukan a bit of grief. 

"Any time I came home (from Estevan) the first thing I would do is run upstairs and jump on Conner in his bed," Miller said. "He would always sleep in and I was always an early riser, I'd be back at seven or eight in the morning. And he would always say, 'What are you doing back, I thought this was my house?' And any time I wasn't home he would be sending me pictures from back home."

"He was my brother. He wasn't just a friend, he was definitely my brother."