Fifteen people are dead and 14 are injured after a bus carrying a junior hockey team to a playoff game in Saskatchewan collided with a transport truck on a rural highway, according to RCMP.

Eight of the dead have now been identified as Humboldt Broncos head coach Darcy Haugan, captain Logan Schatz, 20, and players Adam Herold, 16, Logan Hunter, 18, Jaxon Joseph, 20, Stephen Wack, 21, and Logan Boulet, 21. Play-by-play radio announcer Tyler Bieber, who was travelling with the team, has also been confirmed dead.

The crash occurred on Highway 35 near Tisdale, more than 200 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon, late Friday afternoon. The Broncos were about 20 minutes away from their destination at the time of the crash.

The team鈥檚 bus was T-boned by a transport truck, according to the president of the Nipawin Hawks, which was scheduled to play the Broncos in Game 5 of a semi-final Friday night. There were 29 people, including the driver, All of the injured were rushed to hospitals in Saskatoon.

The truck鈥檚 driver was uninjured in the crash and was released after being questioned by police, Saskatchewan RCMP Assistant Commissioner Curtis Zablocki said. The driver is being provided with mental health and wellness assistance.

鈥淚t鈥檚 too early to comment on the cause of the collision,鈥� Zablocki said.

Ryan Straschnitzki, 18, suffered a broken back, his mother told 麻豆影视 Channel on Saturday.

鈥淗e apparently can鈥檛 feel his lower extremities,鈥� Michelle Straschnitzki said. 鈥淚 wish we had a time machine and could go back 24 hours.鈥�

According to RCMP, the bus was travelling northbound on Highway 35 when it collided with the truck approximately 30 kilometres north of the small town of Tisdale. The truck had been travelling westbound on Highway 335.

Environment Canada data shows that it was a clear but cold at the time of the accident. There are stop signs with flashing lights for both westbound and eastbound traffic on Highway 335 where it meets Highway 35.

Images from the scene show both vehicles partially overturned with the truck鈥檚 cargo littered across a snowy field. The front end of the team鈥檚 bus appears to be completely shorn off.

The team is part of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), which is open to players aged 16 to 20. Thirteen of the Humboldt Broncos players are from Saskatchewan, 10 are from Alberta, and one is from Manitoba.

鈥淭he worst nightmare has happened,鈥� the league鈥檚 president, Bill Chow, told reporters while choking back tears during a press conference Saturday afternoon. 鈥淥ur condolences to everybody involved, our condolences to the families, our condolences to the injured.鈥�

late Friday night announcing the news on its website.

鈥淥ur 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,鈥� Broncos President Kevin Garinger said in the release.

Matthew Gourlie, a sports writer with the DUBNetwork, told 麻豆影视 Channel that the team is a source of pride in the tight-knit community.

鈥淪ome kids dream of playing in the NHL. But if you are from Humboldt, you dream first of becoming a Humboldt Bronco,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine what the community is going through.鈥�

鈥淚t has hit us hard,鈥� Humboldt Mayor Rob Muench told The Canadian Press Saturday morning from the town鈥檚 Elger Petersen Arena while wearing the team鈥檚 jersey. "We are a small community by most standards but the hockey team has always been a big part of our community."

A vigil has been planned for Sunday at the arena, where counsellors are currently meeting with the devastated community. The Broncos were scheduled to play the Hawks there for Game 6 of their semi-final series Sunday.

has been set up and has already raised more than $2.6 million as of Saturday night. In Saskatoon, those eager to donate blood were met with a three-hour line as the community rallied around the young athletes.

, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, 鈥淚 cannot imagine what these parents are going through, and my heart goes out to everyone affected by this terrible tragedy, in the Humboldt community and beyond.鈥�

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale called the collision 鈥渢ruly devastating鈥� and offered condolences to family and friends of the victims.

鈥淔irst responders are on the scene doing everything possible to help. Love + prayers to all,鈥� .

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said he found the news 鈥渄ifficult to comprehend.鈥�

鈥淭o the City of Humboldt, the entire Broncos organization, and the families impacted by this tragedy, please know you are in Saskatchewan鈥檚 hearts,鈥� .

鈥淔rom a grieving province, thank you to every one of the first responders and medical professionals for your courageous response under the most difficult circumstances imaginable.鈥�

With files from The Canadian Press

Reading on an app? Tap here for the mobile experience.