The NHL will honor the Marjory Stoneman Douglas hockey team during the league's annual awards on Wednesday night in Las Vegas, the NHL announced on Monday.
The Eagles, whose club hockey team won the Florida state championship days after 17 people were killed and another 17 were injured in a mass shooting at their school in Parkland, will be recognized along with survivors and first responders from October's shooting in Las Vegas and members of the Humboldt Broncos who survived a bus crash that killed 16 people.
The two-hour event will start at 8 p.m. on Wednesday night and air nationally on NBC Sports Network.
The Panthers and MSD's hockey team were linked in the days following the shooting, with the organization inviting the team into its locker room after the first post-shooting home game. Some Panthers players drove across the state to Estero to cheer on the Eagles as they punched their ticket to the national tournament in Minnesota.
In March, as MSD prepared for nationals, the Panthers opened up the BB&T Center for an Eagles practice and surprised the team by delivering the Stanley Cup to the ice. The team also arranged for the Eagles to fly on the Panthers' private plane to and from Minnesota.
Panther goaltender Roberto Luongo delivered a passionate speech before the Feb. 22 home game against Washington, praising the heroic efforts of students and teachers and expressing support for student activists. He then made 33 saves as the Panthers came from behind to beat the Capitals, 3-2.
Other NHL players with local ties helped the MSD hockey team in the aftermath of the shooting. Former Panthers goalie and South Florida resident Craig Anderson hosted the team when Ottawa visited Sunrise. Former MSD student and current Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere also invited the team for a meet and greet when Philadelphia came to town.
