Is Netflix really about to profit off one of Canada’s darkest tragedies? Because according to grieving parents, that’s exactly what their upcoming hockey drama ‘The Sticks’ is doing, and honey, the internet is FURIOUS.
The streaming giant’s latest series is catching serious heat from families connected to the devastating 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash that claimed 16 lives. Scott Thomas, a Saskatchewan father who lost his son in the tragedy, is absolutely NOT holding back. “From what I’m assuming, where they’re going with this is: bus crashes, hockey players die, wife picks up the team and brings them back to glory,” he said—and frankly, we’re getting major “too soon” vibes here.
Like, REALLY too soon, bestie. We’re only talking about an event that happened less than six years ago that devastated an entire Canadian community. The audacity of Netflix to greenlight a fictionalized drama about a real-world tragedy that families are still grieving? It’s giving opportunistic, it’s giving tone-deaf, and it’s giving “we didn’t think this through.”
The parents aren’t mincing words either. They’re questioning Netflix’s sensitivity and moral compass, and TBH, they have every right to be absolutely livid. These aren’t just statistics or plot points—they’re REAL people. Real children. Real families whose lives were shattered forever. And Netflix wants to turn their pain into primetime entertainment? The disrespect is ASTRONOMICAL.
What makes this even messier is that Netflix apparently didn’t consult with or show respect to the families before moving forward with production. No sensitivity. No consideration. Just greenlight a hockey drama with a tragic storyline and hope nobody notices. Well, newsflash Netflix: EVERYONE NOTICED.
The Humboldt Broncos weren’t just a hockey team—they were a tight-knit junior league squad with deep roots in their Saskatchewan community. The bus crash fundamentally changed that community forever, and families are still processing their grief. Using their tragedy as fictional entertainment fodder? That’s not just insensitive; it’s genuinely cruel.
Social media is EXPLODING with outrage, and rightfully so. Fans are calling out Netflix for prioritizing ratings over respect, and the pressure is mounting for the streamer to either cancel the project or completely rework it with actual input from the families affected. Will Netflix listen? Let’s see.
What do you think? A) Netflix should cancel ‘The Sticks’ immediately out of respect for the families B) Netflix should continue but donate all profits to the Humboldt community