Russian plane crash kills 43

There is a Canadian connection to a tragic plane crash in western Russia.

The plane was carrying 37 passengers and eight crew. Only two people survived.
Members of Russia’s Lokomotiv hockey team were on board.

The team was heading to Minsk – the capital of Belarus – to play in the season opener of the Kontinental Hockey League Thursday.

Among the dead: former Ottawa Senator and Vancouver Canuck Pavol Demitra, and Lokomotive head coach and former NHL player Brad McCrimmon, 52, originally from Saskatchewan.
Canadian players Ramzi Abid and Riley Armstrong, brother of Toronto Maple Leafs forward Colby Armstrong are also listed on the team roster. However, Armstrong was not on the plane. He tweeted that he’s at a training camp in St John’s, saying “I’m safe but thanks for the kind words but pray and think of the players and their families on that flight.”

Video: Scot Urquhart reports: