Pavol Demitra killed in Russian plane crash

MOSCOW (NEWS1130) – A passenger jet carrying a hockey team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl has crashed while taking off in western Russia, killing 43 people including former Vancouver Canuck Pavol Demitra.

Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry says the Yak-42 crashed today after leaving an airport near the city of Yaroslavl, on the Volga River northeast of Moscow.

Demitra was 36 years old. More than 50,000 people have already ‘liked’ a Facebook page in his memory.

“It’s just shocking. It’s been a terrible summer for hockey people and I know a lot of the general managers are taking this very hard,” says Dr Sport Greg Douglas.

Josef Vasicek, who used to play for the Carolina Hurricanes, former Mighty Duck Ruslan Salei,
and former New Jersey Devil Karel Rachunek were also members of the KHL’s Lokomotiv hockey team.

Canadian coach Brad McCrimmon has also been confirmed dead. He was the assistant coach when of the Calgary Flames when Don Hay was at the helm of the team.

Hay, now the coach of the Vancouver Giants, tells News1130 Sports this summer, McCrimmon told him he was happy to get a head coaching job overseas.

Giants assistant coach Glen Hanlon knew some of the players in the crash; he’s spent time coaching in the  Kontinental Hockey League in Russia. The 52-year-old played defence for six NHL teams, including Calgary, from 1979-80 to 1996-97.

Russian forward Alexander Galimov has survived the crash, though he has burns to 80 per cent of his body.

Statement from the Vancouver Canucks

“It is with great sadness that we learn of the sudden passing of Pavol Demitra and his colleagues of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey club today.

Pavol was dedicated and passionate about his young family and the game of hockey. Pavol was a valued teammate and member of our organization and will be sorely missed.

We send our deepest condolences to the entire Demitra family and their friends so affected by this tragedy.”

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