Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock disheartened at Russian KHL Teams plane crash -NHL Update
The numerous tragedies faced by the National Hockey League (NHL) and different ice hockey organisations all around the world have been harsh but the latest Russian Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) team, Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, plane crash has triggered an unprecedented
impact on people from all walks of life.
Detroit Red Wings head coach, Mike Babcock, was deeply affected after hearing the news about the crash that took place on Wednesday, September 7, as 43 of 45 passengers on board lost their lives, wiping out the entire Lokomotiv ice hockey team.
"The first thought I have is obviously shock", Babcock said after offering his condolences at the grieving McCrimmon house. "We all fly in our business. We never think of it or worry about it”.
Yaroslavl Lokomotiv head coach, Brad McCrimmon, was a good friend of Babcock’s and was one of the individuals involved in the tragic incident. He spent three year’s alongside Babcock as his assistant coach and left for an opportunity to perform as a team’s
head earlier this year.
Having lost a friend first hand, Coach Babcock has become familiar with the feeling a family is faced with after their loved one is no longer with them.
"The next thought I have is to hug your kids and do as much with them as you can, don't put anything off until tomorrow because you don't know when your number is going to come up", added Babcock.
For Mike Babcock it is certainly a lesson learned that family always comes first no matter what the situation demands because you never know what might happen all of a sudden and it was unfortunate that a caring and loving person like Brad McCrimmon had
to end it like this.
One of his former veteran players, defenseman Ruslan Salei, was also among those dead. Salei played his 14th regular season with Detroit Red Wings and had established a good relationship with the team. He left for Russia recently following the
end of the postseason to play in the KHL.
Only time can bring ease on those affected by the horrific event that took place but one thing is for sure, they will never be forgotten.
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