Some of the top names in Canadian country music and over 30 current and former NHL players were on stage Friday evening in Saskatoon for the Humboldt Broncos tribute concert.
Juno-award winners Dallas Smith, Brett Kissel, Jess Moskaluke and Gord Bamford were among the performers.
Also taking part are Chad Brownlee and the Hunter Brothers.
WATCH BELOW: Saskatchewan’s Hunter Brothers deliver poignant musical tribute to Humboldt Broncos
Before the concert, singers gathered to talk about the plan.
“There’s families, they’re dealing with such heart ache, and if there’s any type of uplifting we can do, we want to be part of that.” Ty Hunter said.
“We want to have fun, but we also want to honour the lives that were lost.”
WATCH: ‘It was a very easy yes’: Musicians talk about performing at Humboldt Broncos benefit concert
Jess Moskaluke said she wants to give people a break from the sadness they’ve been experiencing.
“I fully expect that this building … will be the loudest it’s ever been.” Dallas Smith said.
WATCH: ‘Building will be the loudest it’s ever been’: Music stars talk Humboldt Broncos benefit concert
Brendan Gallagher of the Montreal Canadiens and Sean Monahan of the Calgary Flames were two of the players anticipated to be there.
Former NHL-er Kelly Chase was there and said he’s happy so many from the hockey community were rallying around Humboldt.
WATCH: Former NHLer Kelly Chase lends hand in support of Humboldt Broncos
“It’s actually awesome that so many people have rallied around the community, that so many of the hockey people have shown up to show their support,” Chase said.
“Just to know that there’s a broad spectrum of people in the hockey world that care and want to do something… ockey’s got one degree of separation, if you know a guy, he knows the guy, and that’s the way it is”
Other NHL stars, such as Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, won’t be there. But they and the other players are donating jerseys to an online auction raising money for the families of those who died or were injured in the April 6 crash.
Winners will have an opportunity to attend a meet-and-greet with the players after the concert.
The Broncos were on their way to Nipawin for a SJHL playoff game when the team’s bus collided with a tractor-trailer at a highway intersection in eastern Saskatchewan.
Sixteen people – including 10 players – were killed and 13 injured.
The Country Thunder Music Festival, which arranged the tribute concert, said all proceeds will go directly to the 29 families.
Watch below: Friday night was an emotional one as friends, family and strangers gathered in Saskatoon for a tribute concert held in honour of the Humboldt Broncos.
—With files from The Canadian Press
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