It's not often the floundering Bill Wirtz era Blackhawks teams of the early '00s hit the news cycle in modern times, so when it happens, you know it can't be good. Such was the case a day when tragedy struck Russian professional hockey. A plane carrying Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL crashed shortly after take-off and killed 43 people, including former Blackhawks Alexander Karpovtsev and Igor Korolev. Each were 41-year old Moscow natives who spent time with the 'Hawks during the forgettable coaching tenures of Alpo Suhonen and Brian Sutter.
The Blackhawks sent out the following statement:
"We stand together with the entire KHL, NHL and hockey world in mourning today's tragic news involving members of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team," the Blackhawks said in a statement. "The tragedy affects the Chicago Blackhawks family directly as we mourn the loss of Alexander Karpovtsev and Igor Korolev."
H/T: Chicago Tribune