Crash for the KHL: Analysis of the Russian Hockey Team Airplane Tragedy and Lessons to be Learned in Sports Organization Risk Management

By Timothy Liam Epstein, Partner/Chair, SmithAmundsen Sports Law Practice Group and Michael McGrory, Partner, and Anna Kazaz, Associate, SmithAmundsen Aerospace Group   On September 7, 2011, a Russian plane crash killed virtually an entire professional hockey team. Russian authorities are still investigating the accident, but one thing is certain—the crash devastated much of the international hockey community. This was not the first time that a sports team has been stricken by such a sudd