After three students were killed and five more were injured in a shooting on the Michigan State campus Monday night, Dylan Larkin had nothing to say about a hockey game.
"Everyone knows what's going in our home state and at Michigan State University," Larkin said after the Red Wings' 6-1 win over the Canucks. "Just tragic events. This is a pretty sobering feeling right now coming into the locker room and hearing the news. We're all just pretty devastated by it.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved, all the students and all the families. Just very sad. And we dealt with this last year with Oxford (High School). It just hurts the heart, and we feel for everyone involved. I know tonight was a win, but it's kind of hard to talk about anything else. We're all thinking about our home state right now."
Head coach Derek Lalonde likewise began his postgame press conference with words for Michigan State. He said he had just learned about the shooting upon the conclusion of the game and "our guys were pretty shook up about it" in the locker room.
"Sad, tragic," said Lalonde. "Again, just really puts into perspective that so many things are vitally more important than sport, and that's certainly one of them. It is the Michigan State University and we are Detroit. We just hosted the 'Duel in the D' (between Michigan State and Michigan) and the energy of that community, it's gut-wrenching, it's sad.
"My thoughts and prayers out to the community, but especially the families. I have kids that are approaching college age and it's just heartbreaking."
Michigan State has cancelled all campus activities for the next 48 hours, including Wednesday's night's men's basketball game against Minnesota.
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