Monthly Archives: September 2011
Former Islanders assistant coach Brad McCrimmon and former Islanders center Josef Vasicek were among the more than 40 people killed when a YK-42 plane carrying the KHL club Lokomotiv crashed soon after departing Yaroslavl.
Former NHL players Pavol Demitra, Ruslan Salei, Alexander Karpovtsev (who played 3 games for the Islanders in 2004), Karlis Skrastins, Igor Korolev and Karel Rachunek and Devils prospect Alexander Vasyunov were among the other players who perished in the crash.
McCrimmon, an assistant coach in the late ’90s with the Islanders and most recently the Detroit Red Wings, recently took the job as the head coach of Lokomotiv. The man they called “Beast” appeared to be indestructible on and off the ice. In 1986-87, McCrimmon and Mark Howe formed one of the best defense tandems in modern history, each surpassing +80 in plus/minus.
Vasicek, who would have turned 31 on Monday, had 16 goals and 19 assists in the 2007-08 season for the Islanders before signing in the KHL. The 6-4 center was a strong hockey player and a true gentleman. He was one of Radek Martinek’s best friends, serving as an usher in Radek’s wedding.
Both Brad and Joe, and everyone lost in today’s tragedy, will be greatly missed.
The former NHL all-star talks about Garth Snow, Michael Grabner, Brian Rolston and Doug Weight, shares his perspective as a recently retired player on the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, gives his take on the Islanders’ injury epidemic and reveals his expectations for the Islanders in 2011-12.
Tuesday marks the first day of school for many and brings us that much closer to the start of the NHL season. But Tuesday also brings an extremely important fundraising event that we hope as many Islanders and area hockey fans as possible can support.
Michael Grabner, Matt Moulson and Butch Goring will be among the guests at “A Night for Jake” this Tuesday, Sept. 6 between 7-10 pm at the Local West Beer Garden in Manhattan on Eighth Avenue and 33rd Street. Funds raised will directly benefit Jake Wisniewski, a young graphics coordinator on MSG Network broadcasts who underwent a successful double lung transplant this summer as part of his battle with cystic fibrosis.
Besides Grabner and Moulson of your Islanders, there will be other area hockey players including Zach Parise, Johan Hedberg and Andy Greene of the Devils and Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust of the Rangers. Those seven alone are among the friendliest and most out-going athletes in New York/New Jersey hockey, so attendees of the fundraiser are guaranteed to have a great time.
Goring will be joined by fellow area broadcasters Ken Daneyko, Brian Leetch, Dave Maloney, Joe Micheletti and many more. There won’t be a shortage of people to talk hockey with as the NHL season nears.
Everyone who knows Jake, including MSG/Islanders statisgenius Eric Hornick, speaks the world of the young man. The area hockey community has really rallied to support him.
For just $50 a head, you’ll get an open bar, appetizers and the chance to meet several all-stars, legends and broadcasters. There will also be a live auction, silent auction and raffle with an incredible array of prizes donated by all of the local sports teams and MSG.
I hope many of you can make it to Manhattan on Tuesday night for this wonderful fundraiser.
The Hockey News has been fairly accurate in its pre-season predictions for the Islanders in recent years. For 2011-12, THN picked the Islanders to finish 12th in the East. We asked columnist Adam Proteau why. Comments on this welcomed.
