Humboldt Broncos survivors to be honoured, reunite at NHL awards

This year's NHL awards will recognize more than just professional hockey standouts — it will also honour survivors and first responders from recent tragedies in Canada and the U.S.

The award show will feature "special commemorations of three tragedies that touched the hockey world and garnered immense support from the entire NHL community," a new release from the league says.

Those tragedies are the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, last year's Las Vegas concert shooting, and the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla.

The commemorations will include 10 surviving members of the Broncos hockey team.

"It's just going to be great to see everyone," said Xavier LaBelle, who was released from Saskatoon City Hospital on June 6.

"It'll be pretty emotional, but we'll be there for each other."

• Family of paralyzed Broncos player preparing for 'daunting' next phase

• Crash witness names baby after Humboldt Broncos assistant captain

The awards show will be the first time 10 of the surviving members have reunited since the bus crash on April 6 that saw 16 people killed.

The players are also hoping that their head coach, Darcy Haugan, will be the recipient of the inaugural Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award. It recognizes someone who, through the game of hockey, has improved his or her community, culture or society.

Haugan was one of 16 people killed after the team's bus and a semi-trailer collided in rural Saskatchewan in April.

"Just the recognition that he'd get for being the type of person that he was," said Broncos player Brayden Camrud, who had minor injuries in the crash. "It would be awesome to see.

"We can go show our support, and show our support for everyone that's unable to be there."

The NHL awards are scheduled to take place Wednesday starting at 6 p.m. CST (7 p.m. ET).