The victory for the Humboldt Broncos was just getting back on the ice Wednesday night.

In an emotional night filled with tributes and ceremonies, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team played its first game since a devastating bus crash five months and six days ago forced it to start nearly from scratch.

The Broncos lost 2-1 to the Nipawin Hawks, who they were heading to face when the team bus and a tractor-trailer collided in rural Saskatchewan in April. Sixteen people — including 10 players — were killed, and 13 were injured.

"The first shift was intense, with a lot of emotions," Broncos player Brayden Camrud told TSN during the first intermission.

Camrud and Derek Patter, the lone survivors to return to the Broncos roster this season, took part in the ceremonial opening faceoff in the lone game on the schedule. Other crash survivors were on the ice, including goalie Jacob Wassermann, who used a wheelchair.

The Broncos' rebuilding effort paid off when they got on the scoreboard first on a 5-on-3 power-play goal early in the second period by Michael Clarke, with Camrud drawing an assist.

But Nipawin, the defending league champion, led 2-1 by the end of the period and held on, despite 40 shots from Humboldt.

"For our first game together, it was a pretty strong effort," Patter told TSN.

The hockey community embraced the team and city after the crash, with NHL teams wearing Humboldt Strong ribbons and people putting out hockey sticks by their front doors. About $15 million was raised to help the families. Washington Capitals rookie Chandler Stephenson brought the Stanley Cup to the city.

The Broncos unveiled 29 banners after the game to honor the people on the bus. The players' numbers will be retired.

General manager/head coach Darcy Haugan was among those who died in the crash, and he was honored by the NHL last season with the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award. Haugan’s saying of "It’s a great day to be a Bronco, gentlemen," is inscribed outside the dressing room at Elgar Petersen Arena.

Former NHL player Nathan Oystrick was tapped as the team's new head coach in July.

The driver of the truck, Jaskirat Sidhu, was arrested by Royal Canadian Mounted Police in July and charged with 16 counts of "dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death" and 13 counts of "dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm."

The Broncos will take a bus Friday to Nipawin for a rematch.

"Thank you everyone for the love and the thoughts and prayers," Humboldt Mayor Rob Muench said on TSN after the game.

Contributing: A.J. Perez, USA TODAY; Associated Press