KHL Lokomotiv: Anniversary Marks Dark Day in Hockey History

45 Players and Staff From KHL Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Perished in a Plane Crash 5 Years Ago Today, Marking One of the Darkest Days in Hockey History

Team Russia’s World Cup of Hockey squad paid tribute to KHL Lokomotiv Yaroslavl today with a moment of silence at center ice during practice to honor the fallen. It was five years ago when we lost 45 players and staff in a deadly plane crash that sent shock-waves through the hockey world.

The KHL has made it a tradition since the tragedy not to schedule games on September 7th, and according to the league, there never will be. It’s a classy way for the Kontinental Hockey League to ensure we never forget the devastating event that took place a half decade ago.

There are no games in KHL on September 7th. And never will be. #RIPLokomotiv pic.twitter.com/D7wCYFteCH
— KHL (@khl_eng) September 7, 2016

There were initially two survivors from the plane crash, but unfortunately one of them died a few days later in hospital. Here is a full list of those 45 players and staff (list courtesy of Sportsnet.ca):

KHL Lokomotiv Yaroslavl: List of 45 Players/Team Staff

PLAYERS

Vitaly Anikeyenko
YOB: 1987 NAT: Ukraine – 3rd round (70th overall) in 2005 by Ottawa

Mikhail Balandin
YOB: 1980 NAT: Russia – Russian League Defender

Gennady Churilov
YOB: 1987 NAT: Russia – Russian League Center, Spent One Year (2004-05) With QMJHL Quebec

Pavol Demitra
YOB: 1974 NAT: Slovakia – 16-Year NHL Veteran (Ottawa, St.Louis, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Vancouver) 848 games played – 304 goals – 464 assists – 768 points

This loss was particularly devastating since Pavol Demitra was a favorite player of mine growing up as a kid. Sadly, just a year earlier, Demitra was playing for Vancouver before taking his talents overseas to the KHL.

Robert Dietrich
YOB: 1986 NAT: Germany – 6th round (174th overall) pick of Nashville in 2007, spent two years with AHL Milwaukee in 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Alexander Galimov
YOB: 1985 NAT: Russia – Russian League Winger

Marat Kalimulin
YOB: 1988 NAT: Russia – Russian League Defender

Alexander Kalyanin
YOB: 1987 NAT: Russia – Russian League Winger

Andrei Kiryukhin
YOB: 1987 NAT: Russia – Russian League Winger

Nikita Klyukin
YOB: 1989 NAT: Russia – Russian League Center

More from Puck Prose

Stefan Liv
YOB: 1980 NAT: Sweden – 4th round (102nd overall) pick by Detroit in 2000. Spent 2006-07 season in North America (AHL Grand Rapids/ECHL Toledo). He was a career SHL (Swedish Elite League) netminder until he decided to join the KHL in 2010-11.

Jan Marek
YOB: 1979 NAT: Czech Republic – 8th round (243rd overall) pick of NY Rangers in 2003, but never made the jump to North America. He left his native Czech Republic in 2006-07 to play in the Russian leagues.

Sergei Ostapchuk
YOB: 1990 NAT: Belarus – Spent two seasons with QMJHL Rouyn-Noranda in 2008-09 and 2009-10 before re-joining the KHL in 2010-11.

Karel Rachunek
YOB: 1979 NAT: Czech Republic – Former NHL veteran was selected in the 9th round (229th overall) by Ottawa back in 1997. Spent time with Ottawa, NY Rangers, and New Jersey totaling 371 career NHL games (140 points). He left the NHL after the 2007-08 season, joining the KHL.

Ruslan Salei
YOB: 1974 NAT: Belarus – 9th overall pick by Anaheim in 1996, Salei went on to have a lengthy NHL career. He played for Anaheim, Florida, Colorado, and Detroit and was a 14-year NHL veteran. Ruslan collected 204 points in 919 career NHL games, and was just coming off his final year of pro hockey with Detroit in 2010-11.

Maxim Shuvalov
YOB: 1993 NAT: Russia – Shuvalov was just an 18-year-old kid at the time of the crash.

Karlis Skrastins
YOB: 1974 NAT: Latvia – 9th round (230th overall) by Nashville in 1998. Spent time with Nashville, Florida, Colorado, and Dallas over his 12-year NHL career. Similar to Salei, Skrastins was also just coming off his final NHL season in 2010-11.

Pavel Snurnitsyn
YOB: 1992 NAT: Russia – 19-Year-Old Russian League Center

Daniil Sobchenko
YOB: 1991 NAT: Ukraine – 6th round (166th overall) by San Jose in 2011

Ivan Tkachenko
YOB: 1979 NAT: Russia – 4th round (98th overall) by Columbus in 2002, Russian League Winger

Pavel Trakhanov
YOB: 1978 NAT: Russia – Russian League Defender

Yuri Urychev
YOB: 1991 NAT: Russia – Russian League Defender

Josef Vasicek
YOB: 1980 NAT: Czech Republic – 4th round (91st overall) by Carolina in 1998. Spent the majority of his career in Carolina (five and a half seasons), a half season with Nashville, and one final year with the New York Islanders. He totaled 180 points in 460 career NHL games.

Alexander Vasyunov
YOB: 1988 NAT: Russia – 2nd round (58th overall) by New Jersey in 2006. Split time between AHL Albany and New Jersey in 2010-11 before returning to Russia.

Alexander Vyukhin
YOB: 1973 NAT: Ukraine/Russia – Russian League Netminder

Artem Yarchuk
YOB: 1990 NAT: Russia – Russian League Winger

TEAM STAFF

Yuri Bakhvalov
YOB: 1974 NAT: Russia – Team Physician