Former NHL player, Head Coach of Yaroslavl Lokomotiv Brad McCrimmon amongst dead in plane crash
The whole Russian Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) Yaroslavl Lokomotiv team perished in Wednesday’s plane crash in Russia, which included many players who were former performers in the National Hockey League (NHL) and others from around the world.
Amongst them was club head coach, Brad McCrimmon, who himself was one of the NHL’s most celebrated former players and Detroit Red Wings assistant coach.
The 52-year-old was picked up after playing for Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League (WHL), a team which he led to the Memorial Cup championship with his 98 point (24 goals, 74 assists) performance during the 1978-1979 regular season.
He played three straight seasons with Boston Bruins following a transition to Philadelphia Flyers for four seasons, another three with Calgary Flames, three with Detroit Red Wings, three with Hartford Whalers and finally finished of his career with Phoenix
Coyotes after playing 36 matchups during the 1996-1997 season.
McCrimmon was a winner of two Stanley Cup championships, with Calgary Flames in 2009 and once again in 2009 when he served with Detroit Red Wings as their assistant coach.
Detroit captain, Nicklas Lidstrom and McCrimmon were ages apart but were friends to the core as the news of his former teammate’s death saddened him.
"He was my (defensive) partner my first year over here, and he was my roommate, too, so I got to know him really well", Lidstrom said.
After retiring from professional hockey playing, McCrimmon opted for a job behind the bench and spent three seasons as Detroit’s assistant coach with current head coach, Mike Babcock. He retired in May in order to apply as a head coach on a team and came
across the Lokomotiv team in Russian, with whom he signed later on that month.
"He wanted to a head coach", Lidstrom said, adding that the players and management wished him well as he continued to pursue his dreams. "He wanted to see what it would be like, being a head coach in Russia”.
Brad McCrimmon proved himself to be one of the those people that will always go down on the good books of people due to his personality and people dealing skills. It is easy to say, that he will not be forgotten anytime soon.
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