Yaroslavl Lokomotiv Hockey Team Killed in Plane Crash

Rented Mule · 07-09-2011 7:23pm #1

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/6939064/russian-jet-carrying-lokomotiv-khl-crashes-43-dead

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=375297

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=587792

A plane crash near the city of Yaroslavl in Central Russia has claimed the lives of at least 43 people, according to Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry. The majority of victims were members of the Kontinental Hockey League club, Lokomotiv.

Lokomotiv has confirmed that the entire main roster, plus four players from the youth team, was on the plane.

"We have no team anymore," Vladimir N. Malkov, the team spokesman, said in a telephone interview with The New York Times. "All our starting players, and all the service people, they all burned in the crash."

Coach Brad McCrimmon, forward Pavol Demitra, defenseman Ruslan Salei, forward Josef Vasicek, defenseman Karel Rachunek, forward Jan Marek, forward Alexander Vasyunov, defenseman Karlis Skrastins and goalie Stefan Liv are among the confirmed fatalities.

The deaths of McCrimmon, Salei, Vasicek, Rachunek, Skrastins and Liv were confirmed by the Russian Emergency Ministry. Demitra's passing was confirmed by his agent, Matt Keator, while the New Jersey Devils confirmed Vasyunov's death.

Former NHLers Igor Korolev and Alexander Karpovtsev were listed as assistant coaches for Lokomotiv.

I would like to send my condolences to the family, friends and teammates of the victims of this crash this morning. I was incredibly to have met several of the former NHLers who perished in this crash while working in Chicago. I cannot imagine what life will be like for the families of these men.

I got a chance to know Assistant Coach Igor Korolev a little bit during his time with the Chicago Blackhawks. He was an absolute gentleman. One of the memories that springs to mind was watching a documentary on the 2002 Nord-Ost Terrorist attack in Moscow. I remember him shaking his head and saying 'you never know' as he walked away.

Those words are ringing in my head as I type this.

MrJoeSoap · 08-09-2011 12:28pm

What a tragic few months for the sport. RIP to all involved, condolences to all the families, and may this be the last time I have to type those three letters for a good long time.

09-09-2011 11:13am

very sad , RIP

Rented Mule · 09-09-2011 2:24pm

MOSCOW - The Russian hockey team whose players were killed in a plane crash will be rebuilt in time to take part in this year's Kontinental Hockey League season, according to the league's leader.

All but one of the 28 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl players travelling to Belarus for their first game of the season were killed when their Yak-42 jet crashed on Wednesday.

KHL chief Alexander Medvedev said Thursday that each team in the league should volunteer up to three players each toward building a new Lokomotiv squad. He says it will free up between 40 and 45 players for Lokomotiv to pick.

"The 18 KHL clubs whose representatives I have managed to speak with have supported this proposal," Medvedev said in remarks to Atlant Mytischi hockey club's press service.

Medvedev said up to 35 players have already put their names forward to join Lokomotiv, but he didn't specify any names.

He said one idea was for players' salaries to be underwritten by the teams from which they had been transferred to Lokomotiv for the duration of one season.

"This is still an unofficial decision, but it has been supported by everbody, and many are putting this idea forward themselves," Medvedev said in televised remarks.

Rented Mule · 12-09-2011 6:34pm

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=375644

MOSCOW -- Russia's sports minister says the hockey team wiped out by a plane crash last week will not take part in this year's Kontinental Hockey League season.

Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Monday that Lokomotiv Yaroslavl would be demoted to a lower league as part of a gradual rebuilding program.

Lokomotiv president Yury Yakovlyev said the team might begin playing in December in the Major Hockey League, which is the second-highest level in Russian hockey.

Rented Mule · 12-09-2011 6:34pm

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=375634

MOSCOW -- The only member of a top Russian hockey team to survive a plane crash that killed 44 people died Monday of his injuries in a Moscow hospital, a final bitter blow to all those who mourned the team's loss.

The Vishnevsky hospital said 26-year-old Alexander Galimov died of the severe burns that covered about 90 per cent of his body, despite the best efforts of doctors in its burn unit, considered one of the best in Russia.

Grid. · 15-09-2011 1:59am

Dreadful, condolences to all. R.I.P

Yaroslavl Lokomotiv Hockey Team Killed in Plane Crash

Comments