Former King Demitra Among Dead in Russian Plane Crash

Such a sad day in the hockey world. As if it hasn't been a rough summer already for the sport.

Former Kings & NHL star Pavol Demitra was one of 43 people killed today in a Russian plane crash that also claimed the lives of most of the Russian KHL team Locomotiv.

Also reportedly killed in the crash were former Kings prospect Jan Marek, Locomotiv's head coach Brad McCrimmon, a former NHL defenseman and assistant coach with Detroit, former Ducks forward Ruslan Salei, and former NHL players Josef Vasicek, Karel Rachunek and Karlis Skrastins.

The plane was carrying the Locomotiv team on its way to Belarus when it crashed on the banks of the Volga River after takeoff from an airport in nearby Yaroslavl, about 150 miles northeast of Moscow. Locomotiv was scheduled to play against Dinamo Minsk in Belarus in its season opener.

Russian player Alexander Galimov and a flight engineer survived the crash and are both listed in serious condition at a nearby hospital.

Demitra, a three-time NHL All-Star, played most of his NHL career with the St. Louis Blues from 1996-2004. He was originally drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 1993 and was up and down between Ottawa and their AHL team on Prince Edward Island, Canada from 1993-1996. Demitra left the NHL after 2004 and played one season in his native Slovakia for HC Dukla Trencin before signing with the Kings before the 2005-2006 season where he scored 25 goals and had 62 points in 58 games. After just one season in L.A., Demitra was traded to the Minnesota Wild. He played two seasons in Minnesota before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks, where he played for two more seasons. Last season was his first with Locomotiv.

In 16 NHL seasons, Demitra scored 304 goals and registered 768 points. Last season, he scored 18 goals and tallied 60 points in 54 games for Locomotiv.

Demitra and Salei were both 36. McCrimmon was 52.

Thoughts and prayers go out to the entire hockey world, the NHL, KHL, the entire Locomotiv organization and to all the families and friends of those who lost their lives in today's tragedy.