Lokomotiv Yaroslavl is the city 's ice hockey team , which was the champion of Russia in 1996 – 1997 , 2001 – 2002 , and 2002 – 2003 seasons . On 7 September 2011 all players on the team were killed , when the plane in which they were travelling for their first match of the season crashed on take off from Yaroslavl airport . As tribute to the team , the city co-hosted the 2012 Canada – Russia Challenge with Halifax , Nova Scotia
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Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash
Yaroslavl