Reaction to Russian plane crash

(WOOD/AP) - Reaction to the plane crash in Russia that killed at least 43 people, including members of the top Russian ice hockey team Lokomotiv:

"The entire Grand Rapids Griffins organization is deeply saddened today by the horrible plane crash in Russia. The loss of three former Griffins, two former Red Wings, their Yaroslavl Lokomotiv teammates and the other victims is unspeakably painful. Pavol Demitra, Karel Rachunek and Stefan Liv were tremendous individuals and great ambassadors during their time with us, while many in the Griffins family also knew Brad McCrimmon and Ruslan Salei well. We mourn their passing with the rest of the hockey community, and our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and families of all the victims of this tragedy."

-- Grand Rapids Griffins president and CEO Dan DeVos

"This is the darkest day in the history of our sport. This is not only a Russian tragedy, the Lokomotiv roster included players and coaches from 10 nations. This is a terrible tragedy for the global ice hockey community with so many nationalities involved."

-- International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel

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"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, teammates and friends who at one time excelled in our league."

-- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman

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"We will do our best to ensure that hockey in Yaroslavl does not die, and that it continues to live for the people that were on that plane."

-- Russian Ice Hockey Federation President Vladislav Tretyak

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"I'm in shock!!!!!R.I.P ..."

-- Russian NHL star Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals on Twitter

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"Nothing could prepare the hockey community for the devastating news it received today. The tragic plane crash involving Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League has left all of us beyond words."

-- New Jersey Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello

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"I think it's a huge loss for the hockey world. ... A tragedy for the hockey world."

-- Detroit Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom

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"He (Stefan Liv) proved his talent as an ice hockey player through his presence in the national team. His constant striving to become a better player showed an incredible strength. I think that revealed his greatness."

-- Swedish Ice Hockey Association chairman Christer Englund

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"Jan Marek, Karel Rachunek and Josef Vasicek contributed greatly to the best successes of our ice hockey in the recent years, first of all to the gold medals at the world championships in 2005 and 2010. They were excellent players, but also great friends and personalities. That's how we will remember them."

-- Czech Ice Hockey Association President Tomas Kral

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"Brad McCrimmon was a member of our team while we were still in Hartford, and was well liked by all who came in contact with him. His presence in the hockey community will be greatly missed."

-- Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford on the Lokomotiv coach

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"That's horrible. I had many close friends there, I know the families. Just half a year ago, I trained those guys."

-- Czech coach Vladimir Vujtek, who guided Lokomotiv Yaroslavl to league titles in 2002 and 2003