Players and Wives Show "Love for Lokomotiv"

NHL Network ^ | Michelle Crechiolo

[airborne]

Evgeni Malkin played like a man possessed on Thursday, coming out flying from the drop of the puck and sustaining that pace for the game’s entirety.

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He certainly had a lot to play for, as the Penguins’ tilt with the Capitals at CONSOL Energy Center served as a way to raise money for the families of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, the KHL team that perished in a plane crash Sept. 7 in Russia.

Malkin and fellow Russian superstar Alex Ovechkin joined forces to headline the effort, where players from both clubs wore jerseys with commemorative Lokomotiv patches that will be autographed and auctioned off at nhl.com. All proceeds will benefit the Lokomotiv players’ children and families.

“We need to help because it’s very important for me, for all of us,” Malkin said. “I think we’re one big hockey team and family and we need to help because it’s a big tragedy in Russia.”

This initiative was incredibly important to Malkin, who grew up playing hockey in Russia before coming to Pittsburgh and knows many of the families directly affected.

Head coach Dan Bylsma reiterated before the game just how much this fundraiser meant to Malkin, who approached him and general manager Ray Shero weeks ago about ways they could help.

“Geno immediately, has deeply been touched by it, and immediately wanted to partake in this game,” Bylsma said. “Raising money, raising awareness right from Day 1. Geno hasn’t asked for a lot of meetings with Ray Shero and myself in my time here, but right away he was like, we’ve got to do something. Not just for this game but for the families and for the team, for his loss, for the country’s loss, for hockey’s loss.”

[airborne]

And what better way to do so then by showing solidarity between two normally heated rivals?

“We’re bitter rivals on the ice, we each want to win,” said Shero’s wife Karen. “But in a tragedy like this, it really brings us all together.”

Karen and the rest of the wives and girlfriends of Penguins players and staff also wanted to help in any way they could for something that hit so close to home. So they all sold remembrance bracelets before and during Thursday’s game as part of the “Love for Lokomotiv” project – a grassroots initiative spearheaded by Brijet Whitney, wife of Phoenix Coyotes forward Ray Whitney.

“The response from the wives has been amazing,” Bylsma said. “Almost every team has been stricken and it’s not just the players, it’s been the wives too. And they’ve been doing a lot.”

Upon hearing the horrible news, Brijet reached out to her network of contacts compiled through her husband’s years in the league. They came up with the idea of selling bracelets and quickly arranged for all 30 NHL teams to have a representative.

“When this happened, you realize how small the hockey world is,” said Anne Adams, wife of Penguins forward Craig Adams, who served as Pittsburgh’s representative. “It just sort of makes you pause and think about what matters. Everyone just felt terrible and just wanted to do something. This was traditional rivals coming together for a great cause.”

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Added Erin Lilly, fiancée of defenseman Brooks Orpik, “It hits home. Our guys travel a couple times a week. It could happen to anyone. It’s scary. Just the thought of receiving that phone call breaks your heart.

“One girl had an idea, and everyone sort of started to throw ideas in and back each other up. It just shows what a strong, united organization the NHL truly is and the hockey world truly is. So it started with one email, one idea and look at it now, it’s crazy. It’s awesome.”

For those who didn’t attend the game, bracelets can be purchased and/or donations can be made at the project’s website, www.LoveForLokomotiv.com.

“We are family regardless of what team we are on,” said Mary Beth Bylsma, wife of coach Dan. “So when a tragedy like this hits, we feel as though it’s part of our own family that’s been also affected. Our own families are on those planes every single day, and so it didn’t matter that it was in Russia, it could have been in our own backyard. So we are happy that we could be part of something to help.”

[the invisib1e hand]

the guy's name was Lokomotiv?

Is that "Plaxico" in Russian?

[airborne]

Hockey Ping!

(let me know if you want on or off the ping list)

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HOW TO HELP -

•Bid on a game-issued or game-worn jersey from the Oct. 13 game by clicking here through Oct. 27.

•Visit www.LoveforLokomotiv.com to:

o Purchase a Lokomotiv memory bracelet, a prayer bracelet that comprised of semi precious jade beads which symbolize healing, hope, love, and generosity. Available in an adult size ($50) or kid's size ($25). 100% of the proceeds will go to the Foundation set up in honor of the lost team.

o Purchase a comfortable red silicone, debossed Love for Lokomotiv Remembrance bracelet. for $10. 100% of the proceeds will go to the Foundation set up in honor of the lost team.

[airborne]

It was the name of a hockey team. The plane crashed and everyone died. 43 members of the team.

http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2011/9/7/2410164/khl-tragedy-lokomitiv-plane-crash-near-yaroslavl

[Colonel_Flagg]

If you haven’t seen the memorial service at Lokomotiv’s first scheduled game in Minsk, watch this. Amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmqtS1fDCuQ

[Varda]

This was a “We Are Marshall” moment for the entire hockey world. Malkin has been tweeting about contacting players wives expressing condolences and support. Getting the call that they got is the fear of all wives whose husbands travel for work.

[airborne]

Very moving, when you see all of their faces like that on the ice.

You don’t realize the number lost until you see a visual aid like that.

[airborne]

But you won’t see this on ESPN. All they show regarding hockey are the negative things. With the exception of Barry Melrose they are useless. I’m grateful for Root Network. I get the Penguins and Capitals and more.

[secret garden]

Get over here ping.

[Betis70]

Great to see the NHL players and wives/girlfriends doing this. It was such a shock reading about an entire team dying in that plane crash, some of whom I’ve watched in the NHL. And during the lockout, many Canadian & American players went over to the KHL to play.

[xsmommy]

The wives/gf sold them at the home opener of Caps, we’ve got bracelets : )

[Hot Tabasco]

We here in the U.S. take for granted the invisible things that are available to us such as insurance policies, workers comp and stuff like that.

I'd be willing to bet that those who died only had their player salaries to rely on and that's it. No life ins. for their families or salary continuations.........I may be wrong but I don't think so.

[airborne]

But you won’t see this on ESPN. All they show regarding hockey are the negative things. With the exception of Barry Melrose they are useless. I’m grateful for Root Network. I get the Penguins and Capitals and more.

[airborne]

I think I just set a record for longest time interval between posts! Over 2 hours! Darn cell phone.....

[buccaneer81]

Not funny, dude. That was the name of the team. Killed in a plane crash.

[buccaneer81]

Thanks for that. Incredibly moving.

[the invisib1e hand]

Not funny, dude. That was the name of the team. Killed in a plane crash.

right. completely inappropriate but done in ignorance. Pardon.

[buccaneer81]

I understand. There wasn’t a lot of coverage outside of the hockey world.