Ruslan Salei

Ruslan Salei
Salei while with the Detroit Red Wings.
Born	(1974-11-02)November 2, 1974 Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union
Died	September 7, 2011(2011-09-07) (aged 36) Yaroslavl, Russia
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	212 lb (96 kg; 15 st 2 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	HC Dinamo Minsk Tivali Minsk Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Ak Bars Kazan Florida Panthers Colorado Avalanche Detroit Red Wings
National team	Belarus
NHL Draft	9th overall, 1996 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Playing career	1992–2011

Ruslan Albiertavič Saliej (Belarusian: Руслан Альбертавіч Салей; November 2, 1974 – September 7, 2011), better known as Ruslan Salei (Russian: Руслан Альбертович Салей), was a Belarusian professional ice hockey player. Salei played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, who selected him ninth overall in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

Salei died on September 7, 2011, when a Yakovlev Yak-42 passenger aircraft, carrying almost the entire Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team of the Kontinental Hockey League, crashed near Yaroslavl on its way to Minsk, Belarus, to start the 2011–12 KHL season.

Salei was selected by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim ninth overall at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. In 1992, prior to being selected for the Ducks, Salei played in his native Belarus for Dinamo Minsk in the Russian Elite League. After the 1994–95 season, the Russian Elite League re-aligned, pushing Tivali Minsk to the side. Salei then came to North America, being signed by General Manager Bob Strumm of the Las Vegas Thunder without Sturmm knowing of his capabilities.