PEORIA, ILL – The hockey world was shocked to its core September 7, 2011 when a plane crash killed 44 members of the Locomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team. The hockey world mourned for those lost, yet each of those who perished left behind loved ones – wives and families – who depended on them every day.
It is with those survivors in mind that the wives and girlfriends of players throughout the NHL and AHL have rallied to support the Locomotiv team.
Emily Lekander is the girlfriend of Peoria Rivermen center TJ Hensick and she is leading up the drive in Peoria. The wives and girlfriends of the Rivermen players are selling red bracelets that read “Love for Locomotiv”.
“Love for Locomotiv is a local foundation. In September 2012, all the funds that have been raised over the past year will be given to this local foundation to benefit the wives and children of those lost in that tragic accident,” Lekander said.
Hailey Robinson, girlfriend of Brett Sonne, and Michelle Digirolamo, girlfriend of Mark Cundari, said that the tragedy hit close to home for a lot of the players and families.
“Almost every player knew someone who was lost in the crash,” Digirolamo said.
“This is a very tight network – our extended hockey family,” Robinson added.
“Next year a memory book will be presented to the team, along with the funds we are raising,“ Lekander said. “People can log on to the web site LoveForLocomotiv.com to purchase one of two different memory bracelets.”
http://www.loveforlokomotiv.com/
Contact the author: Shaun.Bill@ProHockeyNews.com
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