Russian plane crash kills all 44 passengers on board
Posted Sep 7, 2011 10:36 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A plane crash in Russia has wiped out an entire KHL Hockey team and it’s coaching staff.
Kontinental Hockey League Officials have confirmed that the entire main roster on Russia’s Locomotiv team, plus four youth players were on board.
The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said the crash happened immediately after take-off and reports say the weather was sunny and clear.
The league was celebrating the start of the new season with the traditional rematch of last season’s grand final. The game was abandoned when KHL President Alexander Medvedev interrupted play 15 minutes into the first period to announce the tragedy to a packed arena, which responded in shocked silence.
The Russian Hockey Federation has published a message of sympathy on its website: “The FHR expresses its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and relatives, fans and the entire hockey community”.
Twitter is exploding with an outpour of condolences from Former NHL players.
Alex Ovechkin with the Washington Capitals tweeted “I’m in shock!!!!! R.I.P.”
Ryan Whitney with the Edmonton Oilers tweets “Terrible news of the plane crash carrying an entire KHL team. Thoughts and prayers go out to all families involved”.
The team’s head coach Brad McCrimmon who played for the Calgary Flames for three seasons including during the teams Stanley Cup win in 1989.
