SASKATOON — A pair of NHL stars visited the nine members of the Humboldt Broncos still recovering in hospital from the April 6 bus crash to help raise their spirits.

Edmonton Oiler Connor McDavid and Ryan O’Reilly of the Buffalo Sabres looked in on the injured players at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.

The two also visited schools in the community of Humboldt earlier in the day, talking to students.

They also made a point of stopping at Elgar Peterson Arena in Humboldt to pay their respects to all of the 16 people who have died as a result of the collision that involved a transport truck.

Two of the nine people still in hospital remained in critical condition.

McDavid says they made a point of joking with the Broncos at the hospital in the hope the players could forget about what they are going through for awhile.

"Just to be here and interact with them, and joke around with them a little bit,” McDavid said Tuesday.

"There’s only so many text messages, or so many times people can say, 'Stay strong,' or, 'Get well soon.' I think you want to take their mind off it, and talk about something other than that."

O'Reilly said it was very special to meet the injured Broncos.

He was also touched by how young people in Humboldt have been affected by the disaster.

"Going into the one school, when Connor walked in one of the kids had an Oilers shirt on and just broke down crying," O'Reilly said.

"I think it was just a shock to see him, and it was pretty special to be a part of that and witness that — how coming here made such an impact." (CTV Saskatoon)