The plane, which was carrying members of the Kontinental Hockey League team Lokomotiv, crashed  on the banks of the Volga River shortly  after departing from an airport in Yaroslav, located 150 miles northeast of Moscow. The team was flying to Belarus to play in its season opener against Dinamo Minsk.

Russian officials say a crew member and Russian player Alexander Galimov are the only survivors. Both are in critical condition.

A Czech Embassy official told the Associated Press that former NHL players Josef Vasicek and Karel Rachunek were among those killed. Latvian officials also confirmed the death of former NHL defenseman Karlis Skrastins.

The weather was sunny and clear at the time of the accident, according to an Associated Press report.

Officials did not immediately release the names of all of the players and coaches who were on board, but former Ducks defenseman Ruslan Salei was among the players listed on the Lokomotiv roster. Former NHL defenseman Brad McCrimmon is listed as the team's head coach.

Detroit Red Wings prospect Stefan Liv was also listed on the roster.

Demitra, 36, played with the Kings during the 2005-06 season, finishing third in team scoring with 62 points. He last played in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks during the 2009-10 season. The Slovakian standout led Lokomotiv in scoring last season.

Salei, 36, was selected ninth overall by the Ducks in 1996, playing the first eight years of his NHL career in Anaheim. The Belarus native played with the Detroit Red Wings last year.