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Hockey players across the US and Canada are paying tribute to the victims of the Canadian junior hockey team bus crash.

Fifteen lives were lost in the deadly crash that took place Friday night in Saskatchewan, Canada when the Humboldt Broncos team's bus en route to a semi-finals playoff game collided with a tractor-trailer. 

Saturday morning the Chicago Blackhawks and the Winnipeg Jets positioned themselves into a circle for a pregame ceremony wearing jerseys with 'Broncos' written on them in place of their nameplates.

'It's a sad, sad day for the entire hockey world today,' Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said prior to the game, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

'I can't imagine that, It's the worst fear as a parent, as a team. There's been some tragic accidents in Russia. There have been some tough ones over the years. But it certainly hits home in how close the hockey world and hockey community is, not just in Western Canada but throughout all the leagues, American and especially here (in Canada),' he added. 

The Chicago Blackhawks and the Winnipeg Jets skated into a circle for a moment of silence at center ice, as an image of the Humboldt Broncos was displayed on the big screen at the start of Saturday morning's game

With bowed heads the players observed a minute of silence to honor the lives lost in the crash that killed 15 when the Humboldt Broncos bus collided with a tractor-trailer truck, pictured above at the Jet's home rink in Winnipeg, Canada

Players on both teams replaced their nameplates with 'Broncos' on their backs and donated money to the victims' families

'It's a sad, sad day for the entire hockey world today,' Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said prior to the game (above)

The team stood in a circle as the rink was illuminated in blue lighting and the words 'Rise Together' were displayed across the ice in memory of the lives lost in the crash in Saskatchewan

In Toronto, Ontario on Saturday players on the Toronto Maple Leafs also paid tribute to the lives lost in the devastating crash 

The logo of the Humboldt Broncos was displayed on the ice during the moment of silence at the Air Canada Center, Saturday

In Calgary, Alberta the Calgary Flames and the Vegas Golden Knights too paid tribute before their NHL game Saturday 

The Flames and Knights bowed their heads as the image of the junior hockey team was displayed in the screen above them

The Chicago Blackhawks proudly displayed their Broncos jersey on Twitter (left), while the Boston Bruins shared their moment of silence on Twitter (right)

Both teams also donated $25,000 to the Jets' 50/50 raffle. The Jets will donate the proceeds to the Humboldt Broncos club. 

Moments of silence were also held on rinks across Canada and the US such as at the Toronto Maple Leafs vs the Montreal Canadiens game.

In Calgary, Alberta the Calgary Flames and the Vegas Golden Knights observed a moment of silence before taking to the ice.

At the Covelli Center in Youngstown, Ohio the Chicago Steel and the Youngstown Phantoms too gathered in a circle for a moment of quiet to remember the lives lost in the devastating crash.

In Boston, the Bruins turned out the lights for a moment prior to the game to observe the loss.

A GoFundMe page has already surpassed $3.5million for the players and the families affected.

The collision took place Friday at 5pm when the tractor-trailer truck and the bus crashed in Saskatchewan, Canada. There were 29 people on board the bus, including the driver. 

The junior team on the bus, the Humboldt Broncos, were headed to the town of Nipawin for a semi-finals playoff game when the accident took place on Highway 35, about 19 miles north of Tisdale, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

So far 15 are reported dead, and 14 more reportedly injured. 

Although police are yet to identify all the dead, family and friends have named the victims. 

The victims have been named as Head Coach Darcy Haugan, team Captain Logan Schatz, 20, Assistant Coach Mark Cross, 27, Jaxon Joseph, 20, Stephen Wack, 21, Adam Herold, 16, Logan Hunter, 18, radio announcer Tyler Bieber, volunteer team statistician Brody Hinz, 18, Conner Lukas, 21, Evan Thomas 18, Xavier Labelle, 18, Jacob Leicht, 19, and bus driver Glen Doerksen.

Logan Boulet, 21, was taken off life support on Saturday and his organs were donated.   

Fifteen have been reported dead after a bus carrying junior hockey team the Humboldt Broncos crashed Friday evening. Three of the dead have been identified as Head Coach Darcy Haugan (left), radio announcer Tyler Bieber (center) and bus driver Glen Doerksen (right)

 

The 15 victims have been identified as (from top left to right) Adam Herold, 16, Jaxon Joseph, 20, Logan Schatz, 20, (bottom left to right) Logan Hunter, 18, Stephen Wack, 21, and Logan Boulet, 21, who was taken off life support on Saturday

Continuing (from top left to right) Assistant coach Mark Cross, 27, volunteer team statistician Brody Hinz, 18, Conner Lukas, 21, (bottom left to right) Evan Thomas, 18, Xavier Labelle, 18, Jacob Leicht, 19 were also killed in the crash

'An entire country is in shock and mourning,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement released on Saturday as details of the devastating crash between a bus carrying a Canadian junior hockey team and a truck emerged

The crash sent shock waves of grief through the team's small hometown and a country united by the national sport.   

According to local news outlet CTV, there was a three-hour wait at a Saskatoon blood clinic as people were eager to help in any way they could.  

On Saturday prime minister Justin Trudeau sent an emotional message to the mourning nation.

'An entire country is in shock and mourning,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement released on Saturday.

'This is every parent's worst nightmare. No one should ever have to see their child leave to play the sport they love and never come back.' 

President Donald Trump shared his condolences on Twitter saying: 'Just spoke to @JustinTrudeau to pay my highest respect and condolences to the families of the terrible Humboldt Team tragedy. May God be with them all!'  

The truck (above) turned onto its side as its green boxes of cargo spilled all over the freeway due to the impact of the crash

The bus carried a total of 29 people, including the driver and the Humboldt Broncos (above) when it crashed in Saskatchewan, Canada

Humboldt Mayor Rob Muench, wearing a green and yellow Broncos team jersey, hugged people on Saturday morning as they came to the Elger Petersen Arena in the Saskatchewan town to comfort each other and learn more during a press conference.

'It's overwhelming. It's been tough on everybody,' Muench said in a phone interview. 'We're a small community; some of those kids have been on the team for a number of years. A lot grew up in the community and everybody knows each other.'

The team was on its way to play in Game 5 of a semi-final against the Nipawin Hawks.

Solidarity: Three players involved in the crash hold hands in adjacent hospital beds in the aftermath of the devastating collision

Rob Muench, Mayor of Humboldt, speaks during a press conference at the Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, on Saturday

'Hockey was what brought us all together and we had two communities that were rivals in the rink. To find out that it was their first responders that aided our boys just warms your heart,' the mayor said as his voice cracked.

Multiple crisis workers were assisting relatives and friends.

'Everybody is just so devastated. These poor young boys,' said Penny Lee, the communications manager for the town of Humboldt. 

It took several hours for victims to be pulled from the wreckage, according to CNN.

At first it was reported that the truck crashed into the side of the bus. However victim's accounts reveal that the bus was hit at the front head-on.

More than 100 anxious family and friends waited for news on the players at Nipawin Apostolic Church Friday evening

Locals sported Broncos jerseys and laid flowers on the stairs entering the Elgar Petersen arena, the home rink of the team involved in the crash

Parent Tom Straschnitzki, whose son Ryan suffered a broken back in the crash, said: 'He remembers he was in the middle of the bus and then he remembers waking up when the paramedics took him off the bus... and he said, "'I thought the semi T-boned right in the middle," but he said, "no, it was in the front of the bus."'

The Humboldt Broncos released a statement late Friday evening in wake of the crash. 

'Our thoughts and prayers are extended to the families of our staff and athletes as well as to all who have been impacted by this horrible tragedy. Our Broncos family is in shock as we try to come to grips with our incredible loss,' Broncos President Kevin Garinger said.

Back in Humboldt, groups rallied around Elgar Petersen Arena to show support for the players.

'We were a family. You come to the rink... what's better than that?' Daigon Elny said to CBC, a player on last year's team.  

The rink is eerily empty in the aftermath of the crash, but still saw many come through its doors to share condolences 

Upon a closer glance, the seats of the bus can be seen sticking out of the bus and the entire front of the vehicle is demolished

Authorities are seen above responding to the scene of the accident in Saskatchewan by car and by helicopter 

An image on Twitter reveals the impact of the crash and displays three players holding hands in hospital beds. One is seen wearing a neck brace.

'Derek Grayson and Nick bonding and healing in hospital,' the father of player Derek Patter captioned the photo. 

Mother Michelle Straschnitzki said her son Ryan, 18, was taken to the hospital after the crash.

'We talked to him, but he said he couldn't feel his lower extremities so I don't know what's going on,' she said.

'I am freaking out. I am so sad for all of the teammates, and I am losing my mind,' she added.    

Kevin Garinger, president of the Broncos, told TSN the team includes players from Edmonton, Slave Lake and Airdrie in Alberta and from Saskatchewan and Manitoba. 

Rescue officials said that three ambulance helicopters were dispatched to the scene. 

Father of Broncos player Nick Shumlanski said he got a call from his son then picked him up.

'There are casualties and it's very bad. We were at the scene helping,' Myles Shumlanski said at the scene.

A welcome sign in Humboldt honors the lives lost in the deadly crash that killed 15 saying 'Prayers for Humboldt'

The Broncos were on their way to play a game at 6pm local time on Friday against the Nipawin Hawks (seen in the above stock image) of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

'It was a disaster. We had a crane lifting the bus,' he added.

Humboldt, the Broncos' hometown, is a city with a population of 6,000.

It is located about 70 miles east of Saskatoon - the largest city and economic hub of the Western Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

Kevin Henry, a coach who runs a hockey school in Prince Albert, said people are in shock. 

'It is sort of every parent's worst nightmare.

'This is I would think one of the darkest days in the history of Saskatchewan, especially because hockey is so ingrained in how we grow up here,' Henry said.