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Brad McCrimmon

 The plane crash in Russia hit close to home for members of the Swift Current Broncos Coaching Staff.

Both Head Coach Mark Lamb and Assistant Andy Schneider played with one of the 43 victims, Pavol Demitra, in the Ottawa Senators organization.

"He was a great guy," Schneider said.

"He really put an effort in to fit in with the guys and he was a good teammate."

Another of the dead, Dodsland's Brad McCrimmon taught Lamb at a hockey school.

"He was very helpful," Lamb said.

"He was an influence on my career, taught me a lot at that hockey school, and we've been friends ever since."

The sport also lost former NHLers Josef Vasicek, Karel Rachunek, Karlis Skrastins and Ruslan Salei.

"When something like that happens, whether you knew them or not, it effects the hockey world," Lamb said.

The KHL has delayed the start of its season due to the crash.

Interview with Mark Lamb:


Interview with Andy Schneider: