More than 100,000 mourn KHL Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, team not to play next season
In one of the most tragic events this past decade for the ice hockey world and the National Hockey League (NHL), the entire Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) roster was wiped off when their plane crashed on September 7, killing nearly all passengers onboard.
More than 100,000 people gathered in and around their home arena in Yaroslavl to mourn the loss of some of Russia’s best players, including Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, along with KHL chairman and former NHL great, Vyacheslav Fetisov, and a number
of players, KHL clubs and fans.
"For the first time in my life, I had trouble entering an ice arena", KHL chairman, Vyacheslav Fetisov said at the ceremony to the Associated Press. "It's an inexplicable tragedy".
The official event took place on Saturday, September 9, before which private Russian Orthodox funeral services with the families were held in the city Cathedral.
Due to the entire organisation being finished in a flash, KHL chairman, Vyacheslav Fetisov, announced during the event that the franchise would not be a participant during the new season due to the rebuilding process of the team.
"The main priority now is to take care of the relatives and to pay last tribute to the late players and staff. The other aim is to re-build a competitive team", Yakovlev said, according to Russia Today. "This will take some time as well as requiring human
resources. But we are determined to resume participation in the KHL in [2012-13]".
Alexander Galimov, the last surviving player of the KHL line-up, succumbed to injuries sustained during the plane crash and died early morning Monday, September 12.
The sole survivor was being treated at one of the country’s best burn units, doctors were unable to gain any visual progress on his body which was reported to have sustained 90% burns.
One of the worst aviation disasters in sports history, the KHL Yaroslavl Locomotiv, will always remain in minds of people from all walks of life and will take time to heal the pain which only family members and relatives truly feel for the deceased.
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