Players Remember Lokomotiv

[RGM81]

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sport...814/story.html

Canadiens prospect Brock Trotter awoke Wednesday morning to the shocking news that a plane carrying the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Kontinental Hockey League team had crashed, killing 43 people. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff and was en route to Belarus for the team’s season opener against Dynamo Minsk.
“I woke up and I had these text messages from friends and family,” said Trotter, who played with Dinamo Riga in the KHL last season. “I played against a lot of those guys last season, and my memories were still fresh because that’s the team which beat us in the playoffs last season.”
The crash sent shock waves through the hockey world, which was already mourning the tragic loss of Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien and Wade Belak in the off-season.
Former Canadien Alex Kovalev, who returned to Russia this season to play for the KHL’s Atlant Mytischi team, reflected on the international nature of hockey when he told Sovietsky Sport: “I can’t talk. I had so many friends on that plane. (Igor) Korolev. (Alexander) Karpovtsev, who I won the Stanley Cup with (in 1994 with the New York Rangers).”
Kovalev was among the scores of players, teams and league officials who expressed their condolences through tweets and other social media.
The Lokomotiv team, which is based in the modern industrial city of Yaroslavl, featured players from 10 countries. Former NHL all-star Pavol Demitra of Slovakia was among those who died in the crash, along with former NHL defenceman Brad McCrimmon, who was in his first year as a head coach in the KHL. Other players who would be familiar to North American fans included Joseph Vasicek, Ruslan Salei, Karol Rachunek and Karlis Skrastins.
Russia’s record for air safety is one of the worst in the world, but Canadiens defenceman Andrei Markov – who said he was shocked when he learned of the crash – said it was too early to assign blame for the crash.
“We have to see what the details are,” Markov said.
Markov added the crash might make some players wary about playing in the KHL, but that it was too early to assess the impact.
“It’s a tragedy,” he said. “I know some of the players from playing with them and against them.
“It might be something players – especially from North America – think about, but I don’t think it should be a factor,” Trotter said.
Trotter added he didn’t have any bad flying experiences during his season in the KHL, but hastened to add he was playing in Latvia.
“Latvia is now part of the European Union, and Riga is a great city,” Trotter said. “The planes we flew in were all pretty modern. I had a great experience there. We had a great rink, and while the atmosphere wasn’t quite the Bell Centre, we sold out every game and the fans were great.”
There was at least one report that the Yak-42 plane that was carrying the Lokomotiv team was barred from travelling in European Union air space because of concerns over the plane’s safety. There are about 100 Yak-42 planes still in service in Russia and other former Soviet states, but president Dimitry Medvedev announced this year that Russia would phase out all Soviet-era aircraft by next year.
Ironically, Medvedev was scheduled to be in Yaroslavl this week for an international forum designed to showcase Yaroslavl as a modern, vibrant city.
“You don’t want to think about it because we’re flying almost every other day,” Detroit Red Wings defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom said. “That’s a lot of time up in the air. You try not to think about it, but accidents happen. It’s a tragedy for all of the hockey world. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families.”
Washington Capitals forward Andrew Gordon said via Twitter: “So hard hearing about the plane crash in Russia. Hockey teams travel so much it could have been any of us. Too many tragic stories this year.”
Said former NHLer Jeff O’Neil, a former teammate of McCrimmon’s with the Hartford Whalers, via Twitter: “Brad McCrimmon my very first NHL roommate. No one loved hockey more! Love you ‘Beast’ you taught me so much about respect.”
And from New York Rangers forward Brandon Prust via Twitter: “The hockey world mourns yet again. Please God, we can’t take much more. Thoughts and prayers in Russia and to all friends and family.”

[RGM81]

I also read this morning that a couple years ago Jaroslav Halak was in talks about possibly joining the team if he didn't make it with the Canadiens.