Ellen DeGeneres pays tribute to Humboldt Broncos crash victims at Calgary event

Ellen DeGeneresbegan a speaking engagement in Calgary on Saturday night by carrying a hockey stick on stage to pay tribute to the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash.

After kissing it in front of a cheering and packed crowd of about 15,000 people at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the popular talk-show host placed it alongside a number of others standing on a rack in the back corner of the stage.

Sixteen peopledied as a result of the April 6 collision involvingthe Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team's bus and a semi-truck near Tisdale, Sask.

The event drew attentionfrom around the world, and sparked supportersto leave hockey sticks outside in tribute. #PutYourStickOut displays were seen across North America.

It also ledto a massive GoFundMecampaign the largest in Canadian historywhich raised more than $15Min 12 days for victims' families and expenses.

Video posted on social media, including onDeGeneres'saccount, captured the moment.

"My heart breaks for everyone," she told the crowd."It hurt all of us."

DeGeneres, who was among the manyhigh-profile figures to tweet about the crashafter it occurred, was in Calgary for a moderated Q&A discussion called A Conversation with Ellen DeGeneres.