Aftermath of Catastrophe: The KHL’s Plans For Lokomotiv

A memorial for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl has been set up outside Ufa's arena where fans have been leaving red roses (Image from Pavel Lysenkov, @plysenkov)

The following comes from reports from Slava Malamud (Foreign Correspondent for Sport-Express), Dmitry Chesnokov (Member of International Sports Press Association and Puck Daddy contributor), and Pavel Lysenkov (SovSport.ru).  Follow all three men on Twitter for up to the minute updates, and take the time out of your day to commend them on the job they have done in the past couple days in reporting on a tragedy that hits far too close to home for all three men.

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It was roughly 8:45am Eastern time when the news broke in North America.  A plane, carrying Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, a Russian team participating in the KHL, had gone down.  It was not immediately known if there were survivors but the collective held their breath in hopes that news would come of it.

Sadly, there were only two.  Two men, of the fourty-five on board the Yak-42 flight from Yaroslavl to Minsk, Belarus, had survived the crash and even they were in critical condition.

It is with a great deal of hope that I write that, at this time, Alexander Galimov, the only active player for Lokomotiv to survive the crash, is still alive in hospital.  After fighting desperately, and through multiple surgeries, Galimov has been transported to Moscow where he has been placed on a respirator.  He is in a medically induced sleep while doctors figure out a way to repair his respiratory  system that was damaged by the third-degree burns the 26-year old suffered.

Both black boxes from the plane have been recovered and will be utilized in determining the cause of the crash.  At this time speculation is abound but it is believed to be either a human error, equipment malfunction, or the cause of low quality fuel.

In hopes to curb a tragedy of this scale, or any for that matter, ever again, the KHL has determined that it will now make major changes to its travel planning beginning with the league taking over the duties of scheduling for each team.  Prior to yesterday’s events, each team was left to their own devices when scheduling travel between games.  Russia’s biggest airline, Aeroflot, has proposed to handle all travel and took the initiative to fly the families of all victims to Yaroslavl.

Earlier this morning, Alexander Medvedev met with the people of Yaroslavl and announced plans to keep hockey alive in Yaroslavl, and announced that not only will it be hockey that lives on, it will be the name of Lokomotiv.  Already a coach has been named, former Lokomotiv head coach Pytor Vyrobyov.

There is currently no clear report on how, or when, the team will draft, be loaned, or sign players but it is believed that it will be through one of these three methods.  Dmitry Chesnokov reported that Medvedev has hinted at the team being made of ex-players and free agents, while Slava Malamud has proposed that it may be through the use of Lokomotiv’s MHL players — MHL is the KHL’s minor league system — or through a supplemental draft where 1-2 players from each team are given to Yaroslavl.  Whatever the case may be, it is very likely the team will play again this season.

Only one day after the tragedy, thirty to fourty KHL players have said they would volunteer to join Lokomotiv this season.  Among them is former NHL defenseman and current member of SKA St. Petersburg Denis Grebeshkov, who said that he feels it is his duty to do so.

As well as icing a team again, the league plans to honour the players and their families in a ceremony on September 10th in Yaroslavl and by creating a patch to be worn on the jerseys of each KHL, and one would assume MHL, team when the season resumes on September 13th.  The design for the patch has yet to be determined.

Support continues to pour in for the families with teams, the KHLPA, KHL, and the Russian government donating money to the families of the deceased.  Salavat Yulaev Ufa and Moscow Dynamo have already made monetary donations of $2 million and $10 million rubles respectively.  Services are continuing to be held in cities around the league and the tributes to the players continue to be released.

To Alexander Galimov; Fight, kid.

And to those that have passed on; May you all rest in peace.

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Even In The Face of Tragedy, Lokomotiv Will Live On

Fans left flowers at a vigil set up by Dynamo Minsk outside the arena in memory of those lost in today's horrific plane crash

The hockey world was shocked, saddened, and stricken with great disbelief as reports came out that KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl had been involved in a plane crash.  Within minutes, it had been said that there were many fatalities and only as the news continued to spread did we begin to find out just how terrible a tragedy this was; Lokomotiv’s entire team was on board, and a total of 43 passengers had died as of 2:00 EST.

Shortly after the KHL had dropped the puck to signal the beginning of a new season, the teams were taken off the ice, informed of the tragedy, and shortly thereafter, the game was cancelled.  An eerie silence fell throughout the building in Ufa where hometown Salavat Yulaev was set to take on Atlant Mytishchi in the Champions Cup.  Fans, upon learning of what had happened, were dismayed and distraught, tears streaming down their faces, and a stunned, glazed look in the eyes of many.

Reports still continue to swirl about what will become of the KHL season and when it will continue, with many signs pointing to games continuing as soon as tomorrow.

However, a question many have been asking today, is how will the KHL honour the lives of those lost?

Ceremonies are being held in Minsk, Yaroslavl, and both participating teams from today’s contest in Ufa took in a church service to pray for the men they would not describe as “opponents” and “colleagues” but rather “friends” and “family.”  Dynamo Minsk has also stated that they will donate all the money from ticket sales that are not collected by those wanting refunds — which we can be safe in assuming will not be many — to the team in Yaroslavl.

As well as honouring their lost ones through the celebration of their lives, the Russian Minister of Sports has said that the Lokomotiv hockey club will continue to find a way to operate.  It is unclear whether or not it is meant to be this season or in the near future.

In all likelihood, if the KHL and Yaroslavl’s management and ownership were to discuss the idea of the team continuing operations this season, it would be through a dispersal draft of sorts with each team loaning a player to Lokomotiv.  Slava Malamud has stated in multiple tweets the desire of those in the KHL to get Lokomotiv back on the ice this season and went on further to say that the KHL will be inventing a method in which to allocate players to Yaroslavl.

One thing is for certain: there will be no greater honour in hockey than playing your heart out for those that lost their lives.

Thank you to Slava Malamud, Pavel Lysenkov, and Dmitry Chesnokov for their stellar reporting today and directing us all to the information.

Keep with Cycle Down Low as we try to keep you up to date on the situation in Yaroslavl and the KHL.

Tragedy in the KHL: Plane Carrying Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Crashes

Today, September 7th, 2011, will forever be associated with one of the great sports, and human, tragedies of all-time.

A Russian airline, carrying the entirety of the Russian hockey team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl including four members of their junior squad Loko, crashed after reportedly catching fire just four kilometers after takeoff.  The crash, happening on the teams departure from Tunosjno Airport, is said to have claimed to the lives of all but two aboard the plane.

Of the confirmed deaths are ex-NHLers Brad McCrimmon, Pavol Demitra, Karel Rachunek and Ruslan Salei.  Also aboard the flight, and tragically confirmed dead, was New Jersey Devils prospect Alexander Vasyunov.

The crash site of a Yak-42 which was carrying members of the KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (AP Photo)

Reports from Slava Malamud (@slavamalamud) stated that Alexander Galimov, who survived the initial crash, was taken to hospital after suffering third-degree burns to 80% of his body.  His injuries are said to make his chances of living very slim, but he continues to fight for his life in hospital.

Russia Today, which has been doing an incredible job of covering the story today, have confirmed that 45 passengers were aboard and it is believed that 43 have died.  It is unclear what the full condition the other survivor, a plane engineer, is in at this time and whether the injuries suffered could be fatal.  All that is known is that both men, Galimov and the engineer, are in serious condition.

From the story on Russia Today:

Visitors of the International Political Forum, who are visiting Yaroslavl at the moment, held a minute’s silence to commemorate the victims of the crash. The Russian Hockey Federation voiced its condolences to the Lokomotiv club, the families of the victims and the entire ice hockey community.

Hockey fans in Moscow are gathering in Red Square near the Kremlin to honor the deceased Lokomotiv players and the other victims of the crash. In Minsk, people are laying flowers in front of the stadium where the team was scheduled to play on Thursday. Yaroslavl fans are meeting at one of the city’s squares to mark the loss of their team.

As well as the statement from the KHL on this unbelievable tragedy:

“We are only beginning to understand the impact of this tragedy affecting the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl club and the international hockey community. First and foremost, our condolences go out to the families and friends of the players, coaches and staff lost in today’s tragedy.

“We know that there are many in the KHL family who will be grieving with us. As the investigation of this tragedy progresses we will work closely with investigators, government officials, club executives and the Yaroslavl community. We are working to find an appropriate way to honor this club and begin the healing process from the deep loss so many of us feel today.

“We are aware that many of you have questions. This tragedy remains our primary focus. We ask for patience as we find an appropriate way to proceed with the 2011/2012 season. We will continue to communicate our plans as they take shape.”

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UPDATE:  A list of the deceased can be found here: SovSport.ru

The citizens of Yaroslavl have gathered and are waving flags, jerseys, and laying flowers in respect and in honour of the fallen after today’s news.

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Please keep the families and friends of those involved in today’s epic tragedy in your thoughts as our hockey family has suffered an incredible loss.

More to come as it is available.  A lot seems to be up in the air.  Will continue to update as confirmation comes in.

KHL Kickoff Set For Wednesday

Ahh, ’tis the season, my friends.

September is nearly ten days old and the NHL pre-season is mere weeks away.  The Winnipeg Jets have finally unveiled their new threads for the coming season, and, thankfully, we get regular season hockey in the form of the Kontinental Hockey League.

This upcoming KHL season is all about revenge for Atlant, the team that will kickoff the season against their new found rivals from Ufa.  With fresh faces in Kovalev and Zherdev, some see Atlant as the front runners for the Gagarin Cup and the ultimate revenge, a championship, after a five-game defeat at the hands of Salavat Yulaev Ufa.  Ufa, however, has retained the services of Erik Ersberg and some believe the play of the young Swedish netminder can once again lead Salavat back to the top of the mountain.  With talent from back to front in Ufa — Alexander Radulov up front, Oleg Tverdosky on the back end and the aforementioned Ersberg between the pipes — it is hard to believe that the defending champs will go down without a fight.

Regardless of who fans believe will win opening night, all signs point to this being the most competitive KHL season since the league’s inception in 2008.

In concert with the opening ceremonies and the Cup presentation to the home fans in Ufa, the KHL has released a season preview video.  As Dmitry Chesnokov astutely pointed out this morning, the video bears a striking resmeblance to the NHL’s “History Will Be Made” television spots.

But what history may be made in the K?

Does AK Bars Kazan get back to the top and assert themselves as the KHL’s first dynasty in capturing their third title in four years?  Will Chekhov play a game without taking a major penalty?  Or, better yet, can Alex Kovalev play, with heart, every shift?

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Along with the beginning of the season, and sticking with a theme that will be very prominent on this site in the weeks to come (more on this later), Cycle Down Low presents you with the odds, from betting site BWin, for the 2012 Gagarin Cup:
SKA St. Petersburg — 7-2
Salavat Yulaev Ufa — 5-1
AK Bars Kazan — 11-2
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl — 7-1
Avangard Omsk — 8-1
Metallurg Magnitogorsk — 8-1
Dynamo Moscow — 15-1
Traktor Chelyabinsk — 20-1
Atlant Mytishchi — 20-1
CSKA Moscow — 25-1
Spartak Moscow — 40-1
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod — 40-1
Severstal Cheropovets — 50-1
Sibir Novosibirsk — 50-1
Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk — 50-1
Dynamo Riga — 60-1
Dynamo Minsk — 60-1
Lev Poprad — 100-1
Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk — 100-1
Barys Astana — 100-1
Vityaz Chekhov — 300-1
Metallurg Novokuznetsk — 300-1
Amur Khabarovsk — 300-1
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg — 500-1

Of all the teams listed, the biggest surprise is the tough odds given to Atlant.  With the additions they have made, it’s beyond surprising that they’ve not been given better odds.  On top of Kovalev and Zherdev, Atlant also made the move to sign Branko Radivojevic to add depth and a bit more scoring up front.  Radivojevic, who has spent his three seasons in the KHL with Dynamo Moscow, has put up 129 points (42-87) in 159 games over those three years.

SKA, right at the very top of the list with 7-2 odds, looks outstanding at all skater positions but their goaltending, if it falters, will be their downfall.  Jakub Stepanek’s numbers last season were good enough to put him amongst the upper echelon of goaltenders in the KHL, but one has to wonder if his showing in the Euro Hockey Tour could be a sign that his number from last year were somewhat of a mirage.

Sticking with strange odds, it is almost comical to see an “expansion” team, Lev Poprad, garner better odds than a quarter of the competition in their first season.  Receiving permission to play in the KHL last season, the Slovakian Poprad has had an interesting off-season in anticipation of their first season in one of, if not the, top leagues overseas.  Lev has signed a slew of North American talent, namely AHL defensemen Grant Lewis and Jordan Sigalet, as well as looking to other Euro leagues to bolster scoring, with former NHLer Ladislav Nagy fitting that bill (NHL Totals: 435GP, 115-196-311).

All in all the KHL has seemingly established a certain level of competition that, quite frankly, was not there last year.  I think it would be a great surprise to see any team, even at the peak of their playing ability, go on a run similar to Avangard’s 18-game winning streak last season.  With much of the deck shuffling from last year, it appears that it really could be anyone’s game… unless you’re Vityaz, Novuokuznetsk, Amur, or Avtomobilist.