Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Red Wings' Datsyuk on Russian plane crash: 'I don't think too much will change'. Yak Service Yakovlev Yak-42, RA-42434. Yaroslavl .

Published: Tuesday, September 13, 2011
By Chuck Pleiness
Daily Tribune Sports Writer

DETROIT -- Pavel Datsyuk knew many of those that died on board the plane carrying the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team for their opener in the Kontinental Hockey League last Tuesday.

Forty-four were killed that day, including former assistant coach Brad McCrimmon, defenseman Ruslan Salei and goaltending prospect Stefan Liv.

"Everybody waiting (to hear) why plane crashed," Datsyuk said. "Everybody wants to know why this happened. Everyone is still sad that this happened.

"Some of them we played together," Datsyuk added. "We knew each other. It's sad."

Tuesday was the first day Datsyuk has taken part in the team's informal on-ice workouts since the tragedy.

Datsyuk said dealing with out-dated planes is just a part of playing hockey in Russia.

"We really have no choice," he said. "If we have contract, we have contract. We take what they give us. We want to fly better. Sometimes it's a lot better when you fly charter. It's more problem when you fly the other way.

"I wish it would change," Datsyuk added. "I wish it would have changed before this."

The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said the Yak-42 plane crashed into a riverbank on the Volga River immediately after leaving an airport near the western city of Yaroslavl, 240 kilometers northeast of Moscow. It was sunny at the time.

"If I have a job here I don't go there," Datsyuk said. "We don't know the reasons guys go there. They pay good money and hockey is better there. That was my home. I don't think too much will change."

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