This family had their Humboldt tribute sticks stolen. Here's why they'll put more back out

Marcello Scolaand his four-year-old son CJ heard about the Humboldt crash and wanted to pay tribute. So they put three sticks out on their porch.

But when Scolawoke up Tuesday, two of thosesticks were gone.

"I was like in shock. I couldn't believe it ... Myfriend and I were talking [and saying], 'No one's going to be ridiculous enough to go and steal these sticks,'" saidScola, who lives in Maple, Ont.,a suburb of Vaughan.

"This morning when I woke up, I had to do a double take. I'm like, 'Are you kidding me?'"

Sticks have popped up on porches all over the cityand around the countryas part of the#PutYourStickOutcampaign to show support for the Saskatchewan junior hockey team. Fifteenplayers and support staff were killed in last Friday'scrash; Scola wanted to remember them.

"I feel so much for the families that this happened to. Please return the little stick or don't steal anybody else's stick. Come together."

'Won't let this get the best of us'

Scola had put out his own stick and two of his son's smaller sticks his first-ever hockey stick and his current stick, which hadMaple Leafs player Auston Matthews's name on it. The thief only took his son's sticks, leaving the adult one behind.

He doesn't have a clue who stole them. Many in his neighbourhood had put sticks on their porches but he said he didn't know any neighbours who had their sticks stolen. Sticks have also been reported stolen in Wallaceburg, Ont., south of Sarnia.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Scola had yet to explain what happened to his son but he's planning on making a life lesson out of it.

"It's just sad to see that in a time like this, there's still people out there that can do something like this and I will try to explain it to him in a positive way," he said. "I won't let this get the best of us."

• Toronto pays tribute to Humboldt victims with #PutYourStickOutdisplays
• Humboldt Broncos supporters across Canada, U.S. leave hockey sticks outside in tribute

Scolawas planning on putting more sticks back out on the porch.He's hoping the thiefbrings theirsback and stops stealing.

"If they want to steal another stick,I would give you the stick if you wanted it," he said.

"I will still keep putting it out there to pay my respect. I'm a father. My son plays hockey and it really touched us. I can only imagine what these poor parents are going through."