Thanks to everyone who has shared their thoughts and memories on the passing of former Kings winger Pavol Demitra, as well as all of those who lost their lives in today’s plane crash in Russia. Because of his relatively short time with the Kings, I didn’t have a deep relationship with Demitra, but I will always remember him as kind, respectful and a real professional, on and off the ice. Many great tributes are coming in from around the hockey world, so I thought I would share a couple. First, a couple stories about Demitra’s life and career, followed by some thoughts from Kings president Luc Robitaille, who was Demitra’s teammate on that 2005-06 Kings team.
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I have gained new perspective on the hockey fan community today. I’ve talked about this with a few fans today and a few non-fans today. The non fans don’t really understand the magnitude, whereas all of the hockey fans are just blown away by the loss. Thoughts and prayers for the players, their families, and friends.
I hope that the Kings acknowledge this in the first regular season home game.
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This is one of those “My Gods” that go beyond words.
I can’t think of a more stupefyingly tragic event in the history of hockey. A whole team wiped out, a team with players who made their mark in leagues all over the world.
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Too many hockey players left our world today and this past summer and are now playing in heaven. My heart, thoughts, and prayers go out to the families of all these great hockey players.
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I’ve often thought of Demitra as that type of Ziggy Palffy type in our line up. He was kind of that dangler who could move ahead of the play with the puck and make one on one moves to beat you. I was telling another fan how I understood full well why the Kings moved him, but, to this day, I never liked it. He will be missed.
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It is a sad day for hockey.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of these players.
R.I.P.
: – (
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Demitra is a special player for me as a Kings fan. I became a true fan in 03, when Allison and Ziggy were finishing up. After the lockout, PD came to LA and really lite the lamp.
If it wasn’t for him – I wouldn’t have enjoyed the season and may have not become a true and regular fan without seeing the exciting silver lining of skill he brought to our team during a rough year.
You will be missed. May God comfort your family and let us fans remember how important it is to not just live for this world – because it is finite – but to live for the world to come as well.
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Daniel Reply:
September 8th, 2011 at 8:19 am
@Ari, Thank you so much! You really hit the nose on the head for me…. We all ghet caught up in the material things of this world. We are not here for us… we are here to serve gods children… It is so special to see the hockey fans come together as human beings and show their true passion through their spirit to others. God bless you Ari!
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You just have to hope that with all of the off-season tragedy in the NHL this season, that the regular season is going to be something special with a storybook ending for our Kings.
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loskingpride Reply:
September 7th, 2011 at 8:04 pm
@DesertKing, Plain and simple this season is for Mark, Ace and Pavol. Bring home the cup for them. If we all thought a fire was lit for the Kings when DL made those comments in February when they won all those games, this should bring us an 98 game winning streak.
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Stuart Reply:
September 8th, 2011 at 8:39 am
@loskingpride, 98! I like that! Unless you count the preseason, then that just means we win the conference finals in 5 and then sweep for the cup!
GKG win this one for the fallen!!
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My whole family is devastated by this accident. We’re been LA Kings fans for 27yrs. now, and loosing one of the greatest hockey player like Pavol Demitra, it’s just so hard to comprehend, and there is no words to describe how we in the hockey community are feeling on this great lost. Our heart, thoughts and prayers go out to the all of their families. Demitra will always be in our hearts and his passion for the game and memories will live for ever… He will be greatly missed
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“It’s been a really hard summer”. I cannot add anything to that.
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:-/
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Will always remember Demitra from his days on the Blues playing with Zeus and Nagy. They were a fantastic line. Thoughts and prayers out to all the players families.
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The saddest day of a tragedy laced summer for the hockey community. Nothing really to say except godspeed lads
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I went back and checked records that i keep and found that Pavol was on the roster of our fantasy league champion.
It pained me that season to not have him on my team and was jealous of the owner who drafted him and used him throughout the season. As we are both Kings’ fans, it was merely a matter of when Pavol would be drafted and by whom, and i regretted not having him on my team that season as he and Frolov were highlights, both in fantasy and in reality.
I was sadden the day he was traded (for POS no less) but that day now pales in comparison to today.
Earlier, today, i had previously posted i did not have the words to describe what i felt about the tragedy…and now, these are the only words i can say to offer some ease to whomever needs it – maybe just for myself.
But watching that YouTube post of the hat-trick gave me goosebumps and reminded me of how good he was that season for our Kings and my friend’s fantasy team.
#38 should be retired or patch, a banner or an etching should be displayed for the upcoming season.
That’s just how i feel.
Peace for your soul Pavol…and even moreso for your family.
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Stuart Reply:
September 8th, 2011 at 8:41 am
@miracle.on.manchester, I was thinking yesterday that a patch would be the right thing! Or maybe a “38″ sticker for the helmet…
excellent sentiments. tis a sad time.
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I’ve been at a loss for words since hearing of this terrible tragedy. My heart breaks for all those who were on that flight and for their families and friends, but I’m most saddened by the loss of Demitra. He was truly a spark when he played for the Kings, and I became a fan of his. Pavol will be dearly missed. May he and those on that fateful flight rest in peace.
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Nobody really contemplates about living for today or that no one is promised tomorrow, these thoughts usually surface in a tragedy, such as today’s. As our family of Kings fans and hockey fans in general mourn today’s loss, I hope we will all live each day from here on with those lost souls in our hearts and enjoy every moment we see our Kings on the ice and know there but for the grace of God go you or I.
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murf Reply:
September 7th, 2011 at 11:36 pm
@Happy Lappy, hear hear,great post
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kinginsaltlake Reply:
September 8th, 2011 at 3:50 am
@Happy Lappy, Each day we all can learn to live our live’s in the “moment”. Learning to see all things in it’s simplicty, we would then know, that our live’s are but a blessing for all to learn from. R.I.P #38
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That is just horriable news, may god be with the players families to give them strength. I pray that this is the last tragidy we will hear.
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The more I think about this… the more tears come to my eyes. My friends have a blogging site, and they didn’t post the horrific plane crash. Haven’t really been lighting the lamp on the blog during the off-season, so I started the topic and I would like to re-post it here.
First it was “The Boogey-Man” Derek Boogard, than Rick Rypien, than Wade Belak and we think it is over, because the saying goes death comes in threes. As it was with me and my family it came in threes before taking a break. However, in the world of the NHL as we found out yesterday, that it isn’t necessarily true. Just when we think the mourning of NHLers are done, the KHL team Lokomotiv plane crashed in Russia flying to their season opener. 43 players lost their lives. As quoted on NHL.com these are confirmed dead, “Coach Brad McCrimmon, forward Pavol Demitra, defenseman Ruslan Salei, forward Josef Vasicek, defenseman Karel Rachunek, forward Jan Marek, forward Alexander Vasyunov, defenseman Karlis Skrastins and goalie Stefan Liv are among the confirmed fatalities.” As of press time, there is no word on if more NHLers either ex or in the league have died as part of this plane crash. Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks has quoted on his twitter account, “I can’t believe I’m writing another one. Thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by the KHL plane crash. Too many players gone this year.” He is right. I have never in my 30 years of living seen a tragic off-season or year, in any sport like this year in hockey.
My prayers and thoughts go out to every family, friends, and fan of these players. I hope that the NHL can get some rest and we can finish our mourning and enjoy a good hockey season. In closing, I dedicate these songs to all the players (and their families) that lost their lives this year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHooH4464dQ&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1GmxMTwUgs&NR=1
It is a sad day… well, I think Bobby Ryan has a point, and I cant believe I am writing another one, as well… it has been a sad year. However, with this said, we can be glad with the memories these players have given us. Demitra, Salei, and others that we remember in the league that light up the lamp, brought us memories, and opened our hearts.
I for one will miss them, and hopefully the NHL will have every team do a tribute to every NHL player that lost their lives this year at the beginning of the season. Even thou we dislike teams, SHARKS, DUCKS, ETC… something like this brings everyone together.
Well, thank you for listening to my rambling, as I write about this tragic event. See you all at Frozen Fury… GO KINGS GO!!
Again, God Bless the families, friends, and fans of these NHL players that passed away this year. May we stand strong and help the families mourn knowing that we grieve with them, but we will give them a good shoulder to cry on. Good night!
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puck73 Reply:
September 8th, 2011 at 9:22 am
@#1KingsfaninVegas, see you at frozenfury buddy.
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IwantTheCup Reply:
September 8th, 2011 at 10:53 am
@#1KingsfaninVegas, nicely written… :’(
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Goring 19 Reply:
September 8th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
@#1KingsfaninVegas, I feel the same way. Everyone’s been brought together.
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Can you imagine?
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Man, this is so tragic. I can’t believe it! I LOVED when PD was with the Kings. He was one of my favorite players for sure! Still at a loss for words. I feel so awful for their family and friends. You will be missed, each and every one of you!
I also hope the Kings do a patch of some sort to remember him by…
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Just a couple of funny memories of PD. Do you remember that series where cameras followed players around for a day? Remember the one with Conroy?
“That’s Demtra’s house. He DID NOT put those Christmas lights up” in Connie’s usual funny tone, pointing at PD’s house while driving by.
Or, how about when Cammy admitted that the Bentley in Avery’s MTV Cribs epsisode was actually PD’s?
I wished he played here longer, but I think we will all remember him as part of the Kings family.
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