The Canes today announced that the team will honor the memory of former player Josef Vasicek by wearing a patch on its sweaters in the 2011-12 season.
Vasicek was one of 44 people to die in a Sept. 7 plane crash outside of Yaroslavl, Russia, including 28 players, two coaches and seven staff members of the Lokomotiv hockey club of the Kontinental Hockey League.
The Canes also will pay tribute to Vasicek before the Oct. 7 season-opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and will have a display in the players' lounge in the RBC Center locker room celebrating Vasicek's life and contributions to the team.
Vasicek, 30, was about to begin his fourth KHL season. He played 341 games with the Hurricanes and was in 37 Stanley Cup playoff games. His name is on the Stanley Cup as a member of the 2006 champions.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
Very nice
Fri, 09/16/2011 - 14:19 — WikimotoGreat tributes to a terrific player and person. It'd be nice to have a more public display and hopefully include the pre-game tribute in the television broadcast on opening night.
Anyway, I'm sure (or have high hopes) that the other NHL teams will also remember the former players with the same class as the 'Canes.