ANDREW ALLSMAN
ALHAMBRA, IL-- Wednesday was a terrible day for hockey, but it was especially hard for St. Louis Blues fans.
I first heard about the incident early Wednesday morning through a Twitter update, but received no information other than a plane had gone down, and that Demitra may have been on board. Later it was confirmed that he, along with 43 other Lokomotiv players had died in this tragic accident.
I had heard of Pavol Demitra but when he was with the Blues I did not ever really get to see him play nor did I really understand just how important he was in the hockey world.
"I thought he was always one of our highest-skilled players on our team," former Blues general manager Larry Pleau said today. "He grew up here. I think he really matured and grew up here. Became a better person and a better player. Married, children ... you see these things happen, and he was part of your life. It's shame when you think about the family and his wife and the kids."
I read story after story about how he impacted the hockey world and how he was the nicest and most outgoing person you would ever meet.
"He was a superstar," former Blue Tyson Nash said. "He was one of the best players that ever played in St. Louis, as far as talent goes and skill-wise, and you'd never know it. For a superstar, he was the must humble person I'd ever met. He didn't have an ego."
I wish I had the chance to see him play now so I could understand the passion he had for the game and the personality he had that made him a fan favorite.
Former 2nd round draft pick Igor Korolev was also killed in the flight as he was traveling with the team as their assistant coach.
Here is the official statement released by the Blues:
"The St. Louis Blues have lost two members of our family, Pavol Demitra and Igor Korolev, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families as well. Pavol and Igor were both incredibly passionate and dedicated players and their influence in St. Louis was not only felt on the ice, but throughout the community."
My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved in this and I also look for the Blues to pay tribute to these two players sometime during the 2011-2012 season.
Sources: stltoday.com, Jeremy Rutherford
Remember to follow this blog and rate this post!!
ALHAMBRA, IL-- Wednesday was a terrible day for hockey, but it was especially hard for St. Louis Blues fans.
I first heard about the incident early Wednesday morning through a Twitter update, but received no information other than a plane had gone down, and that Demitra may have been on board. Later it was confirmed that he, along with 43 other Lokomotiv players had died in this tragic accident.
I had heard of Pavol Demitra but when he was with the Blues I did not ever really get to see him play nor did I really understand just how important he was in the hockey world.
"I thought he was always one of our highest-skilled players on our team," former Blues general manager Larry Pleau said today. "He grew up here. I think he really matured and grew up here. Became a better person and a better player. Married, children ... you see these things happen, and he was part of your life. It's shame when you think about the family and his wife and the kids."
I read story after story about how he impacted the hockey world and how he was the nicest and most outgoing person you would ever meet.
"He was a superstar," former Blue Tyson Nash said. "He was one of the best players that ever played in St. Louis, as far as talent goes and skill-wise, and you'd never know it. For a superstar, he was the must humble person I'd ever met. He didn't have an ego."
I wish I had the chance to see him play now so I could understand the passion he had for the game and the personality he had that made him a fan favorite.
Former 2nd round draft pick Igor Korolev was also killed in the flight as he was traveling with the team as their assistant coach.
Here is the official statement released by the Blues:
"The St. Louis Blues have lost two members of our family, Pavol Demitra and Igor Korolev, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families as well. Pavol and Igor were both incredibly passionate and dedicated players and their influence in St. Louis was not only felt on the ice, but throughout the community."
My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved in this and I also look for the Blues to pay tribute to these two players sometime during the 2011-2012 season.
Sources: stltoday.com, Jeremy Rutherford
Remember to follow this blog and rate this post!!