I'm here at the request of Myker.
On September 7 of last year, tragedy struck Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, a Russian hockey team playing for the KHL. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff after it failed to gain the altitude it needed to safely clear a tower mast at the end of the runway.
There were two initial survivors, a member of the flight crew (Alexander Sizov) and a member of the team (Alexander Galimov). Galimov was reported to have burns to over 90% of his body. He fought long and hard for 5 days but succumbed to his injuries. Sisov survived.
While I am a hockey fan, really up until that point it has only been towards the NHL. Never have I followed any collegiate, junior, or minor league teams. And while some NHL players go on to play in the KHL, I don't follow them at all.
But I am a hockey fan (Stars fan). While any event such as this is tragic, this one hit a little closer to home for me. On that flight were a few players that had just played the previous season in the NHL. Among them was Kārlis Skrastiņ, and a favorite player of mine, who played with the Stars the last two seasons. Had the Stars tendered him an offer he might still be here...only someone else would have taken his place on the plane. His wife was pregnant at the time, and among the many photos posted on hockey forums it was seeing this one of his daughter that hammered home who was affected.
Not only were lives lost, players, staff, flight crew, but families and friends were lost. So many people affected.. and it was incredibly touching and amazing to see people come together with wonderful tributes and vigils.
My avatar is of remembrance.
[video=youtube;UuUXmVaiIa4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuUXmVaiIa4[/video]