Tragedy struck the hockey community Wednesday when a charter jet crashed during takeoff from Yaroslavl, Russia. The plane was carrying the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv team of the Kontinental Hockey League to its season opener in Minsk, Belarus.
Russian officials said there are just two survivors — a flight engineer and 26-year-old winger Alexander Galimov. Both are in critical condition at a local hospital with severe burns.
Among those confirmed dead are three former members of the Florida Panthers: defensemen Ruslan Salei, Karlis Skrastins and Alexander Karpovtsev. Salei had reportedly called the team in Minsk for extra tickets to Thursday’s game for family and friends. The 35-year-old was from Minsk.
“This is a horrible day for hockey,” Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said. “Our hearts just go out to their families.”
Russian officials said 45 people were aboard the Yak-42 airliner — 37 players, coaches and staff as well as eight flight crew members. Those who died include former Red Wings assistant coach and 16-year NHL veteran Brad McCrimmon and three-time NHL All-Star Pavol Demitra.
The plane crashed on the banks of the Volga River after failing to gain altitude on takeoff. Yaroslavl is about 150 miles northeast of Moscow. "Though it occurred thousands of miles away from our home arenas,’’ NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement, “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.”
Salei and Skrastins did not play together with the Panthers, although their paths did cross. Salei, who played in 147 games with the Panthers over parts of two seasons, was traded to Colorado in February 2008. The Panthers got Skrastins in return.
Skrastins, 36, spent part of two seasons with the Panthers, playing in 97 games before leaving for Dallas in 2009. Karpovtsev, 41, played in six games for the Panthers in 2005 before being released. The Panthers are still reeling from the death of former teammate Wade Belak, who played in parts of two seasons with the Panthers. He was found dead in Toronto. Belak reportedly took his own life.
“This is just unbelievable. This whole summer,’’ said Panthers center Stephen Weiss, who played with all four. “It was hard to hear that news this morning. Just another sick feeling. ....You just feel sick for their families. As athletes, we fly a lot and it gets scary up there sometimes. To see this is terrifying. This is just terrible.”
The Panthers held an informal preseason skate at their training facility in Coral Springs on Wednesday, with players being informed of the crash before taking the ice. Russian players Dmitry Kulikov and Evgeny Dadonov took the news hard but participated in the full workout.
“This is just a terrible, terrible feeling,” said Kulikov, who once had a contract with Lokomotiv.
“I was friends with a lot of those guys, played for that team. Words can’t describe how I feel right now. It’s tough. To know people there, and know what happened, it’s tough. It’s just an empty feeling. You know things like this happen, but you never think it’s going to happen to your friends.”
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