A Russian jet slammed into a riverbank on Wednesday just moments after takeoff, killing at least 43 people. The plane was carrying a top ice hockey team comprised of players from around the world, making it one of the worst plane crashes ever involving a sports team.

Two other people on board were also critically injured.

According to the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry, the Yak-42 plane crashed into the shores of the Volga River immediately after leaving the airport near the western city of Yaroslavl, 150 miles northeast of Moscow. The weather was sunny at the time of the crash.

The jet was carrying the Lokomotiv ice hockey team from Yaroslavl to Minsk, the capital of Belarus, where they were to play on Thursday evening against Dinamo Minsk in the opening game of the season for the Kontinental Hockey League. According to the Ministry, 45 people were on board the plane, including 37 passengers and eight crew.

Officials said that Alexander Galimov, a Russian player, survived the crash, as did one crew member. The ministry added that Czech players Josef Vasicek, Karel Rachunek and Jan Marek, Swedish goalie Stefan Liv, Canadian coach Brad McCrimmon and Latvian defensement Karlis Skrastins were among those killed in the crash.

The body of 28-year-old New York Rangers player Derek Boogaard was found on Friday in his Minneapolis apartment by family members. Police do not suspect foul play, but an autopsy is pending.

Boogaard had signed a four-year $6.5 million deal with the Rangers in July. Last season he appeared in 22 games with them, and had a goal and an assist to go with 45 penalty minutes. Boogaard missed the last 52 games of the regular season with a concussion and shoulder injury and did not play in the playoffs.

Rangers' president and GM Glen Sather said:

‘Derek was an extremely kind and caring individual. He was a very thoughtful person, who will be dearly missed by all those who knew him. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and teammates during this difficult time.’

The NHL Players' Association also issued a statement:

‘The NHLPA is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Derek Boogaard. Derek was a well-liked and respected member of the NHLPA, and his passing is a great loss to the entire hockey community.'

Boogaard’s team mates posted tribute messages on Twitter.
‘At a loss for words. I

Boogaard's teammates also expressed their condolences. Rangers winter Brand Prust tweeted:

Former Patriot, Randy Moss

I know it’s more than just a hockey game when my 63 year old father is looking forward to watching, and has been watching most of the hockey games during this Olympics. I know it’s more than just a game when patrons at bars ask to turn the hockey game on, both the men’s and women’s games, as I have seen happen over the last couple weeks. This is about reliving nostalgia for those who were around for the 1980 Gold Medal team‘s “Miracle“ run. And it’s about wanting to experience that same feeling for those of us who were too young or weren’t around then. This is the kind of thing the brings generations of sons and fathers together creating memories that become part of family lore. More importantly, this is a message to the world that hockey isn’t a secondary sport in the United States anymore, but one we can excel at, and even be the best.
It’s almost time for the opening face off, winning twice on enemy territory won’t be easy, but I think if anyone can, it’s this group of relentless young men. No matter what the outcome, they will put forth an effort to be proud of.
My in game thoughts from the penalty box:

According to a report issued Thursday by the Columbus Chamber, the Columbus Blue Jackets could leave central Ohio if the team can't turn around its economic prospects. Currently, the Blue Jackets are operating under an economic model that is causing losses of $12 million per year. A deal to keep the hockey team in Columbus and the area around the arena afloat will likely include asking for public dollars, and is likely to happen soon.

The team and the district around the arena generated $30 million in taxes last year. A loss of that magnitude would be devastating to the city.

Ty D. Marsh, chamber president and CEO says explains that there is a sense of urgency, and that they are "looking for a solution or progress by the end of the year." Already into November, that gives the team less than two months to come up with some kind of workable solution.

Marsh says that the goal would be a financial package that would help the team be rid of some significant costs. Included in that could be $4 million in operational losses and $5 million in arena rent per year.

Cleveland is not known as a hockey hotbed by any stretch of the imagination. It's a football town first, a town that still embraces it's longest sporting resident, the Indians, and a town that supports great basketball. Is there any room for a fourth major league member of the Cleveland sporting community?

A look at the lack of success of minor league hockey in Cleveland would indicate that bringing an NHL team here would be a terrible idea. But the simple problem with that has been the fact that the teams have indeed been minor league. Cleveland has and will always be an major league sports town. Yes, many people enjoy the "love of the game" nature of some minor league teams around the region, but when push comes to shove, this town loves the bright lights of a big league sporting event.

Chicago Blackhawks star player Patrick Kane was charged with attacking a cab driver in his hometown of Buffalo on Sunday. According to police, the beating was triggered when the driver indicated that he did not have 20 cents in change to give the player and his cousin who was in the cab with him.

Police say that Kane, 20, and his cousin James Kane, 21, caught a cab from the city's downtown nightclub district around 4am. The driver says he was punched and hit by both men because he did not have 20 cents in change to give them. The cab driver suffered from cuts to his face, and his glasses were broken.

Both Patrick and James were charged with felony robbery and misdemeanor counts of theft or services and criminal mischief. On Sunday, Patrick Kane pleaded not guilty in City Court. It was not clear whether James Kane would appear in court.

A spokesman for the Blackhawks said that the team was aware of the situation, and stated:

"He is a big part of our organization and a team leader and we stand behind him. As we are still collecting all the facts, it would be premature to comment further at this time."

As every sports fan knows a Game 7 is the pivotal game. Whether baseball, basketball, or hockey. And coming up on Friday June 12 will be one of the most important games played in all of sports. A Game 7 for the Stanley Cup Finals. The best two teams stand, the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The race to four games will end on Friday night.

The Red Wings have always been a dominant team in the National Hockey League dating back to the Original Six. They have won 11 Stanley Cups, which is the most for a United States team, and third most overall. Being a very tight defensive team is why they’ve been able to get to the Finals for a second straight year. Their goalie Chris Osgood has always been a solid goalie and no doubt one of the best in the playoffs. And they do have quite the offense with Henrik Zetterberg, Marian Hossa, and Pavel Datsyuk leading them. But Datsyuk has played only two games so far this series (though he was the turning point in Game 5.) Marian Hossa who has gained far too much attention for playing with the Penguins last year and then going to Detroit hasn’t scored a goal at all this series and only has 6 goals total. Many people say the Red Wings are old and tired but they have been in pressure situations and they are machines. Do not count the Red Wings out but in order for them to win they need their offensive weapons to fire.