King leads Lokomotiv's uplifting KHL playoff journey

If you read one article today, hockey or otherwise, make it The Calgary Herald's look at Dave King leading Lokomotiv Yaroslavl to the KHL semi-finals just a few short years after the tragic plane crash that left the entire hockey community, across the world, mourning.

“It’s been amazing, just amazing, for this city,” marvels King. “For them to have a breakthrough like this, get in a couple of playoff rounds . . . it’s been really, really emotional. I’ve experienced nothing like this before. Because what you see is pure emotion from these people.

“They’ve been through a lot. So much. When we’re walking downtown so many people come up and say ‘Spaseeba’. They don’t say congratulations. They say ‘Spaseeba’, which means thank you. Thank you, thank you. Some with tears in their eyes.

“Yes, they’re happy with the wins. But more than that, I think, they’re happy they’ve got a sense of recovery.

“They’ve gone through some difficult times, rebuilding a whole team and an organization. Now there’s having a little bit of success, and they’re thankful for it. In this city, their hockey team is everything to them.

“But there’s still the sense that they reflect back. They can’t forget. They never will.”

Source: George Johnson, Calgary Herald