The NHL Awards go down on Wednesday in Las Vegas, and there will be a special group of people in attendance that will surely receive the loudest ovations of the night.
Nine of the 13 surviving members of the bus crash that killed 16 members affiliated with the Humboldt Broncos came together for the first time since the horrific accident that occurred back on April 6th ahead of traveling to Vegas for the award show.
The team’s late coach, Darcy Haugan, has been nominated as one of the finalists for the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award. Since the accident, members of the hockey community have come forward to shed light on Haugan’s impeccable leadership qualities and selflessness. The Vegas Golden Knights welcomed the widow and children of Haugan to T-Mobile Arena during the Golden Knights’ playoff run.
The survivors met at the Calgary airport before boarding a flight, and posed together with smiles across their faces.
A 10th player, Ryan Straschnitzki, is currently undergoing physiotherapy in Philadelphia, and will link up with his teammates in Vegas.
The NHL will also be welcoming survivors and first responders of the Las Vegas shooting and members of the Stoneman Douglas High School team from Parkland, Florida that had 17 schoolmates perish in a school shooting.
Following the Capitals Stanley Cup victory, Caps forward and Saskatchewan native Chandler Stephenson announced that he’ll be taking the cup to Humboldt this summer.
