KHL's Lokomotiv Involved in Plane Crash - Demitra on board

[goon attack]

Total freaking bummer.

[DaDitka]

Demitra recalled as 'superstar' without an ego

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD jrutherford@post-dispatch.com

Pavol Demitra's teammates with the Blues affectionately called him the "Cookie Monster."

Keith Tkachuk once explained the nickname he gave Demitra by saying, "He's out there trying to eat up all those points, all those cookies."

In eight seasons with the Blues, Demitra had 493 points, the fifth-most in club history. Included in that total were 204 goals, sixth-most all-time. But while his personal achievements ranked near the top, it was Demitra's infectious personality and humble character friends were remembering Wednesday after it was confirmed that Demitra was one of 43 people killed when a jet carrying his Russian hockey team crashed shortly after takeoff.

"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."

"He was a great friend and great teammate," Matt Keator, a former Blues scout who was Demitra's agent, told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "He was always the type to bring people together."

Lokomotiv, which plays in the Kontinental Hockey League, was departing for today's season opener when its chartered jet wrecked into a riverbank on the Volga River near the western city of Yaroslavl, about 150 miles northeast of Moscow. Russian media reported that the jet had struggled to gain altitude and crashed into a signal tower.

Twenty-seven players, two coaches, seven club officials and seven crew members perished. Another former Blue, Igor Korolev, an assistant coach with Lokomotiv, was among the dead. Two survivors were listed in grave condition.

"At first we didn't want to believe it," a Lokomotiv official told the Russian website SovSport. "But right now there is no hope. The team is gone."

Demitra, 36, signed with Lokomotiv in 2010 after a 16-year NHL career. He played parts of eight seasons with the Blues (1996-2004). The team acquired his rights in 1996 in a trade that sent defenseman Crister Olsson to Ottawa.

In March '97, Demitra signed with the Blues, and in his first full NHL season, he had 22 goals and 52 points. In 1999-2000 Demitra teamed with fellow countryman Michal Handzus and Lubos Bartecko to create the popular "Slovak line," which helped the Blues win the President's Trophy for having the most points in the NHL that season.

The following season, on Nov. 29, 2000, Demitra had a hand in the biggest comeback win in Blues history in a 6-5 overtime win over Toronto. The Blues trailed 5-0 with 15 minutes, 10 seconds to play in regulation. Demitra had two assists in the rally, including one on the game-winning goal by Jochen Hecht 18 seconds in OT.

Demitra's bulging-eye reaction is remembered by many.

"That is what I'll remember from Pavol," Nash said. "I've never seen a guy get more excited about scoring a goal, an assist, anything. That's what I'll remember … that face. Always happy, loved the game."

Demitra led the Blues in points four times in a six-year stretch from 1998-99 to 2003-04, including a career-high 93 points in '02-03.
"I thought he was always one of our highest-skilled players on our team," former Blues general manager Larry Pleau said. "He grew up here. I think he really matured and grew up here."

Though Demitra might be remembered for his ice time with Handzus and Bartecko, he enjoyed tremendous success on a line with Tkachuk and Scott Mellanby in St. Louis.
"We are so close," Demitra told ESPN.com in 2003. "All of a sudden, we started playing together, and we started hanging out together, eating dinner together, stuff like that. We know each other very well. We got to be good friends."

Tkachuk said years ago that Demitra at first would clam up when receiving ribbing from teammates, but eventually Demitra was firing darts back.

"I liked it better when he just sat there and took it," Tkachuk told ESPN.com at the time.

When he heard the news of Demitra's death Wednesday, Tkachuk said that he was "beyond devastated."

"Pav was like a brother to me and I cannot believe that he is no longer with us," Tkachuk said in a statement.

In another statement, Blues President John Davidson said the club had "lost two members of our family, Pavol Demitra and Igor Korolev, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families as well."

Korolev, who turned 41 Tuesday, was drafted by the Blues in the second round (38th overall) in the 1992 draft. He played two seasons in St. Louis (1992-93, '93-94), registering 10 goals and 43 points in 147 games.

Demitra and Korolev wore No. 38 for the Blues.

In 2004, Demitra's days with the Blues ended. He became a free agent, and the Blues were leery of re-signing a player who had had concussion issues and limited playoff success and who was set to command a hefty contract with a lockout fast approaching.

After the lockout, Demitra inked a three-year, $13.3 million deal with the Los Angeles Kings.
"I don't want to leave," Demitra told reporters at the time. "The fans are so great here (in St. Louis). I want to win a Cup in this city. We want to be the first guys to do it here."

But that dream dissolved as Demitra went on to play for the Kings, Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks. In 2009-10, a season in which he dealt with injuries and a serious illness to his wife, Maria, he had just three goals in 28 games.

But when his wife regained her health, No. 38 wanted to play hockey again. When he didn't receive suitable contract offers in the NHL, Demitra decided to go overseas
"As a European player, he had certain opportunities to continue playing at a high level," Mellanby said. "He had some decent hockey left in him, so the opportunity for him to go and be a leader was something he wanted.

"He was a great guy, fun guy to be around. It was a great experience playing with him. But for me, the hockey side of it is one thing. We'll always have our memories with the guys, but the families, our thoughts are with them."

Demitra is survived by his wife and two children, Lucas and Zara.


Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/p ... z1XN5EwxjT

[big d note]

It's so tragic. I always loved Demitra and would've liked to see him come back to the Blues on a 1-year deal to see if he was healthy enough and could still contribute. It was great watching the Slovak Pack and his chemistry with Tkachuk.

[Ruutu15]

[youtube][/youtube]

[ohio BLUES]

The back of Halak's mask will pay tribute to Demitra this season...



And the front of it is damn cool too...



Linky

[STLADOGG]

The back of Halak's mask will pay tribute to Demitra this season...

Definition of class.

[WaukeeBlues]

The back of Halak's mask will pay tribute to Demitra this season...

Definition of class.

You forgot "awesome"

[drwoland]

The back of Halak's mask will pay tribute to Demitra this season...



And the front of it is damn cool too...



Linky

and at the same time

[AlsWoodenStick]

The back of Halak's mask will pay tribute to Demitra this season...



And the front of it is damn cool too...



Linky

That's so cool, I got chills looking at that. Did they have a personal relationship at all? Besides the national team. Anyway, freaking awesome.

[glen a richter]

Maybe it's just early and I'm still crosseyed, but why does Halaks mask have the initials P.P. on it instead of P.D.?

[STLADOGG]

Maybe it's just early and I'm still crosseyed, but why does Halaks mask have the initials P.P. on it instead of P.D.?

Yeah I was curious of that too, maybe the initials of someone else on board?