Report: Plane Carrying KHL Team Lokomotiv Crashes, Killing 36

by Cory Lavalette on Sep 7, 2011 9:19 AM EDT

This news is very breaking, but there are reports that a plane carrying KHL team Lokomotiv team crashed in Russia, killing 36. Among those listed on Lokomotiv's roster is Josef Vasicek, a long-time Hurricane that was drafted in the fourth-round by Carolina in 1998.

There is no word on who perished or survived, but our thoughts are with everyone on the plane, their families and the the Lokomotiv organization. We'll try and update the news as we have it.

More: Former Hartford Whaler Brad McCrimmon is listed as the team's head coach. He served as a Red Wings assistant the past three seasons and has been coaching since retiring in 1996-97.

• James Mirtle reports Pavol Demitra's agent confirmed he is among those who died.

• From CNN.com: The aircraft collided with the antenna of the airport beacon, fell to the ground and broke into several pieces and caught fire, Izvolsky said.

• According to Greg Wyshynski at Puck Daddy, Russia Today is reporting McCrimmon is among the dead.

• Reports that the Czech Embassy in Moscow has confirmed the deaths of Vasicek, Karel Rachunek and Jan Marek.

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This is horrible. Just horrible.

Canes Country Phoblographer and resident Finn Aficionado
SISU

by Jamie Kellner on Sep 7, 2011 9:20 AM EDT reply actions

Here’s a link to the Roster.

Specifically – Former NHLers on the Lokomotiv roster: Pavol Demitra, Karlis Skrastins, Ruslan Salei. Head coach Brad McCrimmon

Twitter @HMof2

by Carolyn Christians on Sep 7, 2011 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

This is brutal

-Jonathan Hawkins
HF Boards Canes Forum

by DaleCooper on Sep 7, 2011 9:29 AM EDT reply actions

Helluva summer for tragedy in the hockey world. As someone said on twitter, this makes the Crosby press conference at noon seem incidental.

Twitter @HMof2

by Carolyn Christians on Sep 7, 2011 9:30 AM EDT reply actions

Very very Sad

saqw a news blurb that a plane went down in Russia near Moscow after take off…but until i saw this…never conneted that with this…yet another sad day for professional hockey…Thanks Cory…

So what did you do when you won the Stanley Cup Daddy ?
Go Canes & Checkers !!

by CaniacSteve on Sep 7, 2011 9:42 AM EDT reply actions

There were quite a few former NHLers (or at least former properties of NHL teams) on this club.

Pavol Demitra
Stefan Liv
Jan Marek
Karel Rachunek
Ruslan Salei
Karlis Skrastins
Josef Vasicek
Alex Vasyunov

Still holding out hope that the “Czech Condor” wasn’t on this flight – but I’d assume the whole team, coaching staff, and some other personnel were onboard if there were 37 people in total (not counting the two pilots and other plane staff).

by Skyward Cinema on Sep 7, 2011 9:49 AM EDT reply actions

Prayers are being lifted to all the families and everyone envolved with the organization.

by littlepig on Sep 7, 2011 9:56 AM EDT reply actions

Russostrib Michael Russo
RT @dchesnokov: Lokomotiv official tells Sovetsky Sport “everyone from the main roster was on the plane + 4 players from the youth team.”

-Jonathan Hawkins
HF Boards Canes Forum

by DaleCooper on Sep 7, 2011 9:56 AM EDT reply actions

brutal.

by Go_Shelf on Sep 7, 2011 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions

This news is very HEART breaking,

fixed

Mike Milbury is a douche.

by DidJussiThat? on Sep 7, 2011 10:28 AM EDT reply actions

Heard that Ruslan Salei wasn’t on the plane. Unconfirmed though.

Satan is just a coping mechanism for monotheists.

by wilmnoca on Sep 7, 2011 10:37 AM EDT reply actions

Link to Russian website with pictures and Video.

http://www.lifenews.ru/news/68920

Satan is just a coping mechanism for monotheists.

by wilmnoca on Sep 7, 2011 10:40 AM EDT reply actions

Chesnokov just tweeted"

Lokomotiv official: “At first we didn’t want to believe it. But right now there is no hope. The team is gone.”

The Condor. #63.

by DidJussiThat? on Sep 7, 2011 10:50 AM EDT reply actions

wow

I’ll be trying to wrap my head around this for a while. The Condor was one of my favs.

by Caniac1026 on Sep 7, 2011 10:58 AM EDT reply actions

My heart hurts. There just aren’t words for the loss experienced by the hockey world this summer.

"What Carolina really has going for them is Brandon Sutter. When that kid first showed up, he looked like a skinny little thing that wouldn’t last two weeks. But he’s turned into a real star."

by caniacgirl on Sep 7, 2011 11:10 AM EDT reply actions

I’m updating stuff above, but Greg Wysh says Russia Today has said McCrimmon is among the dead.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Sep 7, 2011 11:14 AM EDT reply actions

Cory if you'd like to use my photo, go ahead.

The Condor. #63.

by DidJussiThat? on Sep 7, 2011 11:18 AM EDT reply actions

thx … I’d like to wait and see some confirmed news. so much is back and forth right now.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Sep 7, 2011 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

understood.

The Condor. #63.

by DidJussiThat? on Sep 7, 2011 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions

this really sucks

feel so bad for the players and their families

by brass bonanza on Sep 7, 2011 11:25 AM EDT reply actions

time for prayers

Of Maurice, Karmanos said: "I’m happy Paul is back but he’s going to be judged the same way as any other coach. We need to win more consistently."

by Sergeant Stinky on Sep 7, 2011 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Wow

by Iggy Reilly on Sep 7, 2011 11:38 AM EDT reply actions

crap

Buccigross: The Czech Embassy in Moscow has confirmed the death of three Czech players: Joseph Vašícek, Karel Rachunek and Jan Marek

The Condor. #63.

by DidJussiThat? on Sep 7, 2011 11:40 AM EDT reply actions

Very tragic news

Joe was one of my favorite Canes when he played here. We should wear #63 on our jerseys this year.

by Colossal Caniac on Sep 7, 2011 11:52 AM EDT reply actions

Bummer.

What a crappy way to start ones day.

I believe in strength. I believe in unity. And if that strength, that unity of purpose, demands a uniformity of thought, word and deed then so be it.

by Douchebag St John on Sep 7, 2011 11:59 AM EDT reply actions

Prayers for their families. This is a very sad day for the hockey world.

by sittler27 on Sep 7, 2011 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

Amen to that..

Long Live the Condor#63 in our hearts !!

So what did you do when you won the Stanley Cup Daddy ?
Go Canes & Checkers !!

by CaniacSteve on Sep 7, 2011 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Very sad

My heart goes out to all affected by this tragic event. We lost a Cane in Joseph Vasicek. It’s amazing that we don’t hear more of this with all the flying pro teams in every sport across the world do. Maybe a testament to the safety of modern air transportation, but on a day like this statistics mean nothing. A sad day in the hockey world.

by Hockeydog on Sep 7, 2011 1:31 PM EDT reply actions

Here's what I remember when I hear his name

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_RDZ0pZM5s

7:34 into the clip.

The Condor. #63.

by DidJussiThat? on Sep 7, 2011 1:38 PM EDT reply actions

+63

by Iggy Reilly on Sep 7, 2011 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions

What a horribly tragic summer this has been for hockey.

Prayers and hopes for peace for the families of all affected – including our entire Canes family :(

by caniacmum on Sep 7, 2011 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

Having three players die over the summer is bad enough, but a whole team? Jesus…

by hurricane9 on Sep 7, 2011 2:58 PM EDT reply actions

Vasicek to Gelinas!

Always liked him, wished he’d played to what we expected. Sad ending to a young life and good guy.

by Squeaky83 on Sep 7, 2011 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

Heartbreaking. Simply heartbreaking.

The only easy day was yesterday.

by CoastalCane on Sep 7, 2011 3:59 PM EDT reply actions

Wow…so sad.

Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, uh, your opinion, man.

by anonymousJ on Sep 7, 2011 4:18 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

FYI there are already a couple of tributes to Josef Vasicek from local writers with more to follow I’m sure. I’ve posted a few as comments to Bob’s story with JR’s statement.

Canes Country Phoblographer and resident Finn Aficionado
SISU

by Jamie Kellner on Sep 7, 2011 4:26 PM EDT reply actions

Tragic

Woke up this morning to this news and it’s still pretty surreal. This summer has been a hard one for many involved in hockey the whole world over. I was always fond of Vasicek and reading the News Observer article “Remembering Josef Vasicek” gave me a bit of comfort from remembering his time(s) with the Canes. Just can’t believe this happened – it’s so awful.

"It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times..."

by Gramm Matthew Esq. on Sep 7, 2011 5:28 PM EDT reply actions

tipping one back right now

in memory of big joe and all others involved.

by brass bonanza on Sep 7, 2011 6:45 PM EDT reply actions

wow life is short. i mean wow.

the report said the plane had trouble gaining altitude and then it hit the antenna and went straight down like in a nose dive and then the 4 sections caught on fire. plane crashes are my worst fear. somehow one player and a crew member survived. ugh. so many young lives gone. absolutely tragic.

by emmarose on Sep 7, 2011 7:21 PM EDT reply actions

There are no words to express how sad this makes me as a hockey fan but more importantly how sad this makes me as a person. To lose a whole team of professional athletes is almost unfathomable and I’m sure will affect thousands of people. Thoughts and condolences to all those affected.

by sticker on Sep 7, 2011 9:37 PM EDT reply actions