Plane Crashes in Russia Carrying KHL Team; Pavol Demitra Aboard

by BReynolds on Sep 7, 2011 10:02 AM CDT in News

The summer of sadness continues for the hockey world. Puck Daddy correspondent and resident Russian connection Demitry Cheskonov broke the news to most of North America, telling us in a tweet:

A terrible tragedy in Russia. A charter plane carrying KHL's Lokomotiv crashed. Only one person survived!

The news continued to get worse as we learned the entire team was ~~believed~~ on board, including several former NHLers, most directly connected to Wild fans being Pavol Demitra who played with the team from 2006-2008.After playing for the Wild, he moved onto the Vancouver Canucks and finally home to Russia.

The words have begun to ring hallow, yet we offer our condolences to each of the families involved here. The key here is to remember to think of this tragedy the way I remember hearing in the past. It's not that we lost 36 people, it's that we lost one person 36 times, including a flight crew and other passengers. May they all rest in peace.

Please follow Demitry on Twitter and stay tuned to Puck Daddy's coverage for updates.

Note: No one has confirmed who was on board the plane at this time, but Demitra is on the roster and the reports are that the entire team was on board.

Update 8:54 AM:

Lokomotiv official tells Sovetsky Sport "everyone from the main roster was on the plane + 4 players from the youth team."

Update 10:17 AM:

Russo tweet:
On phone with Agent Matt Keator, confirms Pavol Demitra has died: "People were drawn to Demo. He was a great friend and great teammate. He was always the type to bring people together. I just want everybody to know what an infectious energy he has, what a wonderful person he was."

RIP Pavol Demitra

From Wild PR staffer Ryan Stanzel:

I'll remember 2 things about Demo: when he, Gabby and Radio snuck up on me on Robson St in Vancouver. Nearly jumped into traffic...

2)His banter with @Russostrib at practice rink in Denver when Mike picked Avs to beat us in '09 playoffs

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Comments

I checked Lokomotives roster on their website and it says that Brad McKrimmon was the head coach…Just wondering i that was an updated roster…?

by Okcgiant on Sep 7, 2011 9:10 AM CDT reply actions

He was named the head coach in May.

Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN

Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.

by BReynolds on Sep 7, 2011 9:19 AM CDT up reply actions

Terrible news. Thoughts go out to all the families involved.

The Short Fuse--An Arsenal Blog

by Ted Harwood on Sep 7, 2011 9:23 AM CDT reply actions

http://twitter.com/#!/SlavaMalamud

Alexander Galimov, the only confirmed player to survive, is in the critical condition with burns and broken bones.

by DonBorvio on Sep 7, 2011 9:23 AM CDT reply actions

Update :(

KP.ru reports that Galimov’s burns are fatal.

by DonBorvio on Sep 7, 2011 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Ugh

not the news I would prefer to start the day.

by ThatGuy22 on Sep 7, 2011 9:37 AM CDT reply actions

Seriously

How much more tragedy must the hockey world endure? 3 players were bad enough, but now 42 more? Words can not express my sorrow.

by Oi Oi Boy on Sep 7, 2011 10:03 AM CDT reply actions

Apologies for the double post, by the way

I did not see Nathan had already posted the info. We will be leaving both posts up as people have been linking to them, and we do not want to create bad links in their feeds. Thank you for bearing with us.

Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN

Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.

by BReynolds on Sep 7, 2011 10:19 AM CDT reply actions

Demitra confirmed dead by his agent, per Russo

Proprietor of Hockey Wilderness - We take Minnesota hockey WAY too seriously.

by nathaneide on Sep 7, 2011 10:25 AM CDT reply actions

Seriously

What the hell is going to happen next? Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual life shine upon them, may the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. AMEN.

by cgp711 on Sep 7, 2011 10:33 AM CDT reply actions

Demo memory

That wide swinging shootout move

Unashamed Alex Burrows Fanboy, MN Wild Lover, and believer in the FLA Cats Blueprint

by JMarushin on Sep 7, 2011 10:43 AM CDT reply actions

My First Wild Game

A win by the Wild, and Pavol scored the first goal from what in my mind was half ice, but in review was just outside the blueline.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k85eBaCArXU

by ThatGuy22 on Sep 7, 2011 10:53 AM CDT reply actions

I can not comprehend why we have lost so many members of our hockey family this offseason, and it cuts deep.

The young man said I will never give up, the inner war, I can hold against it
My mind, my mind, my minds in darkness

by TheDragonReborn on Sep 7, 2011 1:51 PM CDT reply actions

This sucks

Is about all I can really say at this point. Too much life lost this summer for the hockey family

"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"

by Semi_Colon on Sep 7, 2011 2:54 PM CDT reply actions

Sadness encroaches on my happy place

For many years hockey has been my happy place. This off season has brought more sadness than I care to dwell on. My heart breaks for the family, friends and fans of the players that we have lost.

"Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever." Shane Falco
"The Sharks got the better deal. They got a Burns. The Wild lost a Burns. You need a Burns to be good." KFAN's Jacques Lemaire 6-25-2011

by minnesotagirl71 on Sep 7, 2011 2:55 PM CDT reply actions