One year ago today, a plane carrying Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, a
Kontinental Hockey League team crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 44
people on board, including all members of the team.
Among the
players and coaches killed in the crash were 10 former NHLPA members:
Coaches Brad McCrimmon, Alexander Karpotsev and Igor Korolev; as well as
players Pavol Demitra, Stefan Liv, Karlis Skrastins, Josef Vasicek,
Ruslan Salei, Karel Rachunek and Alexander Vasyunov.
Players from
across the NHLPA membership, current and former, were deeply impacted
by the loss of the Lokomotiv team, as many of them had personal
relationships with players and coaches killed in the crash. Many of
these players soon began to ask how they could help memorialize their
former teammates and friends.
The
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash was a shock to the hockey community.
Today, on the first anniversary of this tragedy, the NHLPA family has
everyone in their thoughts, especially the families of the victims." -
NHLPA Special Assistant to the Executive Director, Mathieu Schneider
The
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash was a shock to the hockey community,"
said former NHL player and now NHLPA Special Assistant to the Executive
Director, Mathieu Schneider. "Today, on the first anniversary of this
tragedy, the NHLPA family has everyone in their thoughts, especially the
families of the victims."
After input from current and former
players, it was decided that the legacies of the former NHLPA members
killed in the crash should be commemorated. Two items were commissioned
to act as a means of remembrance for the family and friends of the
victims.
The first item is a photo library book that celebrates the careers of each player. The families will each receive ten copies of the book to distribute or display how they please.
The
second item is a memorial plaque, cast in solid bronze and made by the
same company that produces the plaques for the National Baseball Hall of
Fame. These plaques will be mounted in a place that holds sentimental
value to the family, whether that is privately in their home, or at the
hometown arena where each of these players learned to play the game they
loved.
These items are a strong reminder of the good men and
hockey players who were lost last September, but can never fully fill
the void felt by their families and friends after their tragic deaths.
The
brotherhood of professional hockey runs deep. Players develop close
friendships, families share experiences, children become close, all
through the game that an elite few are fortunate enough to call their
profession. It is this sense of community and closeness that ensures
that September 7, 2011 is a date that will forever be remembered by
everyone in the hockey community, for the most tragic of reasons.
We ask that all hockey fans take a moment today to remember the victims of the 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team.
