DENVER (AP) -- Two former Colorado Avalanche players were among those killed in the crash of a Russian jet carrying a top hockey team.
Avalanche president Pierre Lacroix said Wednesday that the organization is "deeply saddened" by the deaths of Ruslan Salei of Belarus and Karlis Skrastins of Latvia.
Former Avalanche captain Joe Sakic -- now the organization's executive adviser -- said he's in disbelief about the deaths of the two defensemen. Sakic says Salei and Skrastins were "unbelievable individuals and great teammates."
The Avalanche traded Skrastins to the Florida Panthers in February 2008 in exchange for Salei.
Skrastins played four seasons for the Avalanche, starting in 2003. Salei spent three seasons with the team.
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