Sabres' Vanek has family ties to plane crash victim

September 7, 2011 - 2:54 PM

Though no former Buffalo players were involved in today's plane crash in Russia that decimated an entire hockey organization, Sabres forward Thomas Vanek does have family ties to a victim.

Josef Vasicek, a former Carolina Hurricane who was among the 43 dead, is linked to Vanek by marriage. Vasicek is the brother of Vanek's sister-in-law (in long form, Vasicek is Vanek's brother's wife's brother).

Luke Decock of the Raleigh News and Observer recalls his time covering Vasicek on his Hurricanes blog.

---John Vogl

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John Vogl

John Vogl has been covering the Sabres since 2002-03, an era that has included playoff runs, last-place finishes and three ownership changes. The award-winning writer is the Buffalo chapter chairman for the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

@BuffNewsVogl | jvogl@buffnews.com

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Mike Harrington

Mike Harrington, a Canisius College graduate who began his career as a News reporter in 1987, is in his sixth season covering the Buffalo Sabres. He is a member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and can vouch that exposed flesh freezes instantly when walking in downtown Winnipeg in January.

@BNHarrington | mharrington@buffnews.com

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