April 6, tragedy struck the hockey world when a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos crashed, killing 15. In the wake of the horrible accident, the hockey community has rallied around the Humboldt community. Hockey players everywhere left their sticks out for the night to honor the victims, while the surviving Broncos have been invited to Stanley Cup Final games and the NHL Awards in Las Vegas.

Recently, the NHL announced another way the league will show their support for the community: Caps forward Chandler Stephenson will bring the Cup to Humboldt on August 24.

“Usually before you win the Cup you don’t say the words Stanley Cup, but he actually at the start of the playoffs told a lot of people about how he wanted to take the cup to Humboldt if he won,” NHL Director of Social Engagement Andrew Ference said to Christopher Lee of the Humboldt Journal. “He’s a Saskatoon native, so I was cheering for him obviously for that reason alone. And lo and behold he won it.”

On top of that, Stephenson will be hosting a skills competition with other NHLers such as Brayden Schenn joining him in Humboldt.

The Broncos will reportedly be at the event to rub shoulders with Stephenson, Schenn, and the rest of the players that will be there. In the end, Ference says, this event is to support them.

“In talking with the Broncos, talking with the community and the players that’s what it’s all about,” Ference said to Lee. “Getting the guys in the locker room with NHL guys and just sharing space… sharing stories, telling stories, having a laugh, supporting each other and really just kind of being together.”

Headline photo: Bruce Bennett