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[Updated, 9:50 a.m. Sept. 7: The Kings issued this statement Wednesday: "The Los Angeles Kings organization is deeply saddened with the tragic news of this morning’s plane crash in Russia that was carrying the members of the KHL’s Lokomotiv organization, including former Kings forward Pavol Demitra, former Kings prospect Jan Marek and many other members of the NHL family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the family and friends of those affected by this terrible occurrence."] The plane, which was carrying members of the Kontinental Hockey League team Lokomotiv, crashed on the banks of the Volga River shortly...

A chartered jet carrying Russia's major league ice hockey team Lokomotiv has crashed on take-off near the central city of Yaroslavl, with 43 deaths. Two people survived with serious injuries after the disaster, which saw the jet burst into flames shortly after leaving an airport near the city. It appears many of the team were aboard, heading to Belarus for the season's first match. Russian reports suggest the jet may have struck a radio mast. Witnesses saw it burst into flames shortly after taking off from the airport, about 250km (160 miles) north-east of Moscow. A number of foreign citizens...

A plane crash near the city of Yaroslavl in Central Russia has claimed the lives of at least 36 people. Some reports have the death total at 42. The majority of victims are believed to be members of the Kontinental Hockey League club, Lokomotiv. The crash occurred at 12 noon Moscow time. Eight crew members are also among the dead, according to reports. According to Russian aviation officials, two passengers survived the crash, but are in critical condition. According to Sov Sport, Locomotiv has confirmed that the entire main roster, plus four players from the youth team, were on the...

The National Hockey League community was forced to deal with the tragic loss of one of its own again Wednesday after Wade Belak, who played in the League for 14 years, was found dead in his Toronto condominium. Belak was 35. Although Belak's playing days ended this past season after he was waived by the Nashville Predators in February, he was so popular around the League that it seemed certain he would remain in the public eye. He stayed with the Predators in an organizational role and was set to appear on CBC's upcoming season of "Battle of the Blades"...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Former Predator Wade Belak, an enforcer who had played with five NHL teams before retiring in March, was found dead Wednesday in Toronto. He was 35. Belak is the third NHL enforcer found dead since May. The Predators learned of Belak's death from NHL security and the team issued a statement saying the organization was shocked and sadden by his sudden and untimely death. "Wade was a beloved member of the organization, a terrific teammate and wonderful father and husband who will be greatly missed," according to the Predators' statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out...

Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta have confirmed that Winnipeg Jets forward Rick Rypien, 27, was found dead in his home in Crowsnest Pass, AB, on Monday. According to a report in the Toronto Globe and Mail, RCMP officials confirmed the death was not of a suspicious nature. National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman issued the following statement regarding the death of Rypien: "The National Hockey League sends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and teammates of Rick Rypien, who played the game with so much energy and emotion and whose passing fills us all with a sense of...

Day one of the 2011 NHL Draft featured some trades, 30 picks being made, and all of the spectacle that could be had when you invite a bunch of junior players. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was selected first overall by the Edmonton Oilers and Brian Campbell was dealt to the Florida Panthers. Jun 25, 2011 - The first day of the 2011 NHL Draft is usually the day with all of the glitz and the glamour. The majority of NHL Draft trades go down during it, the biggest names get drafted in it, and the television coverage is usually all over...

There’s been no shortage of witnesses willing to point out rioters responsible for the post-Stanley Cup mayhem in Vancouver on Wednesday night. According to the Vancouver Police Department, the sheer volume of evidentiary photo submissions from the public temporarily overwhelmed its website yesterday.

After nearly four decades of waiting, fans of the Boston Bruins can finally celebrate a Stanley Cup champion. But the road to the trophy wasn't easy. VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 15: Head coach Claude Julien, Dennis Seidenberg #44, Tim Thomas #30, Patrice Bergeron #37 and Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins pose with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vancouver Canucks in Game Seven of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Arena on June 15, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4 to 0. Jun 16, 2011 - The 39-year...

Blood in our streets. I saw people on the ground, bleeding. Shattered glass everywhere. Police cars set alight. Major bridges are now closed, preventing public access into the downtown core. Transit is plugged up, there’s no way out. More police and fire crews are arriving, from the suburbs, but again, it seems too late. And as I write this, the sun has just set. Vancouver, what a disgrace

Congrats to the Bruins. You played lights out. Every ex-pat canadian here in L.A. just coming out of the bar thought that Thomas played lights out. (stupid Luongo,,,you miserable mediocre goalie, you could play for Team Canada and give everything but you are a damn overrated clown..get lost loser) and you Sedin twins, STFU! You Swedes couldn't fight back in WW2, and you should not have quaranteed game 7. Go back to sweden, punks! ahem..going back. Thanks to Ryan Kesler, my favorite Canuck for the journey. and I feel good for Mark Rechii of BB who's from BC, like me.

Last night the Boston Bruins blew out the Vancouver Canucks for the second straight game. But while the series might now be even at two games apiece, the series is anything but even. In sports, one of the best indicators of how good (or bad) a team really is, is to look at that team's goal/run/points differential. That is, the difference between the number of points they have scored and the number of points they have allowed. The bigger the difference, the better a team is. And in the NHL playoffs, the results so far tell us that the Canucks...

Atlanta will be losing a National Hockey League team for the second time, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, will be gaining one for the second time.The new owner of the franchise, True North Sports and Entertainment, announced Tuesday that it has acquired the team from its current owners, Atlanta Spirit.

BOSTON, MA - MAY 17: Michael Ryder #73 of the Boston Bruins scores a second period goal past Dwayne Roloson #35 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 17, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. Jim Rogash/Getty Images The Tampa Bay Lightning stormed into Boston last Saturday night to kick off the Conference Finals and ran over the hosting Bruins, winning 5-2.However, Boston evened the count with an exciting, wide-open 6-5 victory in Game 2, highlighted by a five-goal second period that erased...

It began in 1959. After experimenting with designs off the ice for months, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacques Plante felt he had found the right kind of goalie mask to use for protection in a game, but there was just one problem. He wasn't allowed to use one.It wasn't just that no goalie before him had ever worn a mask during a game in the NHL, but that his coaches, including head coach Toe Blake, thought it would hinder his vision, and therefore told Plante he would not be able to wear the mask.Talk about tough love, and especially for a goalie...

Prior to wearing the familiar black and white striped jerseys, NHL referees wore cream colored sweaters, as well as neckties, which made for a quite dapper look. The cream sweaters lasted into the early 1950's. 1940's NHL referee's sweater Hockey Hall of Famer and first American referee Bill Chadwick wearing a cream colored referees sweater, complete with necktie Following the cream colored sweaters, in order to differentiate themselves from the home player's white sweaters, NHL referees changed in March of 1953 to a bright orange style with a half zip front, which sadly meant neckties were no longer worn. Hall...

-excerpt- The 28-year-old player was found dead Friday in his Minneapolis apartment. The team announced his death Friday but gave no details.

Barnaby, Michelle Beadle's boyfriend, is currently sitting in a NY jail cell. Jalen Rose recently was arrested for DUI as well ... any doubts they will return? Why is the ESPN culture so accepting of this behavior? A few examples of talent suspended or sued over sexual harrassment claims: Tony Kornheiser Scott Van Pelt Woody Paige Jay Moriatti Jay Crawford Mike Tirico Neil Goldberg Chris Berman Eric Kasilious (sp?) Harold Reynolds Howard Bryant Jeremy Green Ron Franklin Steve Phillips

AP A lot of people think that it’s unfair that the playoffs can make or break players’ legacies. It’s reasonable to feel uncomfortable about that since the sample size is so small, but there’s no doubt that lasting memories are made when everyone can focus on one game. The fact that tonight’s Detroit Red Wings-San Jose Sharks match is a Game 7 only intensifies that scrutiny.The fact that Game 7s are still technically one game means that lesser known players can often steal the spotlight. Maxime Talbot scored two goals against the Red Wings in Game 7 of the...

The matchups have been determined, and the combatants will ratchet up their quest for the Stanley Cup, with the NHL's postseason beginning on Wednesday, April 13. Here is the schedule for the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs Quarterfinals. 2011 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS #1 seed Washington Capitals vs. #8 seed New York Rangers Wednesday, April 13 at Washington, 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 15 at Washington, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 17 at New York, 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 20 at New York, 7:00 p.m. *Saturday, April 23 at Washington, 3:00 p.m. *Monday, April 25 at New York, TBD *Wednesday, April 27 at Washington,...