By Nigel Maxwell

Memory of former Broncos player etched on skin of P.A. girl

Jul 12, 2018 | 10:00 AM

Prince Albert’s Kayleigh Feschuk wanted to do something “permanent” in memory of her former boyfriend Jacob Leicht, who was one of Humboldt Broncos players killed in the team’s tragic April 6 bus crash.

On the day that would have been the couple’s ninth month anniversary, the 17-year-old decided to get a memorial tattoo on her left ankle.

“Our relationship wasn’t something I viewed as fleeting, or temporary, or in the moment at all,” she said. “The idea of a tattoo appealed to me because it was something that would never go away.”

Feschuk said she chose to get a tattoo on the left side of her body, because Jacob was always on her left, whether it was when they were napping, walking, or driving. The tattoo itself, which took about three hours to complete, contains Jack Pine trees from Candle Lake where the couple met, the initials J.L., a shooting star, and several constellations.

“I like writing poetry and a common theme I found often when I wrote about Jacob was the universe and stars and constellations because it was so vast and huge and that’s the only thing I could think of to compare how I felt about him,” she said.

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Feschuk was in Thailand at the time of Leicht’s death. She wrote in a Facebook post that it took her 36 hours to get home though she barely recalled the flight.  A little more than three months later after her boyfriend’s death, Feschuk said she has found comfort and support among family, friends, and the girlfriends of the other players. 

“This tragedy has just reached so far and it does bring comfort to know there are lots of people who understand and who can empathize with you,” she said.

Feschuk said Leicht will always be a part of her now. When asked what initially attracted her to him, she said it was his strength and confidence.

“He was confident in who he wanted to be and what his goals were and who he was and he was able to inflict this never-ending sense of positivity over me, my family, and anyone who met him,” she said “He was a walking, talking source of joy and I love every bit of him.”

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell