Ovechkin 'in shock' over crash

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has spoken of his shock at news of the plane crash which which killed all but one member of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl's playing staff.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry released a complete passenger list for the craft which crashed outside of Yaroslavl, and it showed 37 members of the team's playing, coaching and management staff - as well as eight plane crew - were on board.

Only Aleksandr Galimov, a 26-year-old winger, and plane engineer Aleksandr Sizov were said to have survived - with both in a critical condition.

The news led to a sombre mood at the first night of the NHL's player media tour in New York.

Tragedy

"I know lots of guys there and I know the guy that is surviving (Galimov), and I hope he is going to be alive and good," Ovechkin told NHL.com.

"It doesn't matter who you are, the most important thing is to be here in this world. Nobody can imagine that this is going to happen. I'm still in shock. It's scary in this world because you never know what can happen.

"This is not a national tragedy, it's an international tragedy."

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman released a statement saying: "Though it occurred thousands of miles away from our home arenas, this tragedy represents a catastrophic loss to the hockey world - including the NHL family, which lost so many fathers, sons, team-mates and friends who at one time excelled in our league.

"Our deepest condolences go to the families and loved ones of all who perished."

A Yak-42 aircraft carrying the team to their opening game of the Kontinental Hockey League season in Belarus crashed shortly after take-off.

The two survivors were taken to Yaroslavl's Solovyov Hospital, where Dr Alexander Degyatryov said in a statement: "The state of health of both of them is very grave. But there is still some hope."

Galimov is reported to have suffered 90% burns, with Sizov also fighting for his life in intensive care.