Judge Inez Cardinal told court in Melfort, Saskatchewan, that Sidhu’s remorse and guilty plea were mitigating factors to the sentence.
“Somehow we must stop this carnage on our highways,” she says.
She also adds that she had to consider the number of people who died, were severely injured, and face lifelong challenges.
Jaskirat Singh Sidhu of Calgary had pleaded guilty earlier this year to 29 counts of dangerous driving.
Sidhu blew through a stop sign and into the path of the junior hockey team’s bus at a rural Saskatchewan intersection in April, 2018. Sixteen people were killed and 13 were injured.
The Crown wanted the 30-year-old to be sent to prison for 10 years, while the defence said other cases suggested a range of 18 months to 4 1/2 years.
The hockey team has issued a statement saying the sentence is a big step in the healing process.
