Canucks and Beyond

Remembering Some Familiar Names

09/07/2011 at 4:27pm EDT

With the KHL tragedy at the forefront of everbody’s minds today, numerous NHLers are sharing their thoughts on Twitter. And here are some of the more detailed tributes and remembrances appearing online. (Post will be updated as more comes in.)

Brad McCrimmon— “I know he wanted to try being a head coach, wanted to see what it was like being a head coach in Russia,” said Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom. “We all wished him well.” More at NHL.com.

Pavol Demitra—“People were drawn to Demo. He was a great friend and great teammate.” More at NHL.com

Josef Vasicek— “Vasicek, who died in the plane crash Wednesday that claimed his entire Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team only five days short of his 31st birthday, was unfailingly cheerful, a good guy by the standards of the game of hockey and the game of life.” More at the News Observer.

Karlis Skrastins— “Defenseman Karlis Skrastins will go down as one of the most dependable and calming influences along the blue line throughout his 13 seasons in the NHL.” More at NHL.com

Karel Rachunek— “Former NHL defenseman Karel Rachunek had a long history with the Lokomotiv Yaroslaval team, dating back to before its days in the Kontinental Hockey League.” More at NHL.com

Alexander Karpovtsev and Igor Korolev—“The tragedy affects the Chicago Blackhawks family directly as we mourn the loss of Alexander Karpovtsev and Igor Korolev.” More at the Chicago Tribune.

Jan Marek and Ruslan Salei (LA Times has published confirmation of his death now) are also said to be lost today, among others.

This is such a devastating story, it’s almost beyond comprehension. So many men that we’ve admired and cheered for (and against)—and some we didn’t know at all— all of them lost in an instant. It’s so heartbreaking.