Ex-NHL players among victims in KHL plane crash
Written by Heidi Pope Werner, Wednesday September 07 2011
Russia and the world of hockey were shocked as a Russian jet carrying the KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavi crashed shortly after takeoff Wednesday killing 43 people. The plane carrying the team was traveling to Minsk to face Dinamo Minsk in the season opener of the Kontinental Hockey league. The plane slammed into a riverbank on the Volga River, 150 miles northeast of Moscow.
The International Ice Hockey Federation reported 27 players, 2 coaches and 7 club officials were among those killed. Russian player Alexander Galimov and a crew member were the only survivors.
Among the dead, were former Detroit Red Wings assistant coach Brad McCrimmon, who had recently taken the job as Lokomotiv head coach, and Slovakian national team captain and former NHL All-Star Pavol Demitra.
Josef Vsicek, Karel Rachunek and Jan Marek, members of the 2005 and 2010 World Championship Czech team, were among those killed. Swedish goalie Stefan Liv, Latvian defenseman Karlis Skrastins and defenseman Ruslan Salei of Belarus were reported among the victims.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman released a statement on behalf of the league:
"Though it occurred thousands of miles away from our home arenas, this tragedy represents a catastrophic loss to the hockey world -- including the NHL family, which lost so many fathers, sons, teammates and friends who at one time excelled in our League. Our deepest condolences go to the families and loved ones of all who perished."
Russian NHL star Alex Ovechkin tweeted: "I'm in shock!!!!!R.I.P ..."
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