Igor Larionov
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Position | Centre |
| Shot | Left |
| Nickname | The Professor |
| Height Weight |
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Pro Clubs | Vancouver Canucks San Jose Sharks Detroit Red Wings Florida Panthers New Jersey Devils |
| Nationality |  Russia |
| Born | December 3, 1960, Voskresensk, USSR |
| NHL Draft | 214th overall, 1985 Vancouver Canucks |
| Pro Career | 1978 – 2004 |
| Olympic medal record | |||
| Ice Hockey | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 1984 Sarajevo | Ice Hockey | |
| Gold | 1988 Calgary | Ice Hockey | |
| Bronze | 2002 Salt Lake City | Ice Hockey | |
Igor Nikolayevich Larionov (Russian: Игорь Николаевич Ларионов; born December 3, 1960 in Voskresensk, Soviet Union, now Russia) is a retired Russian ice hockey player. Along with Viacheslav Fetisov, he was instrumental in breaking the barrier that stopped Soviet players from joining the NHL. He primarily played the center position, and is considered one of the best passers of all time.
Larionov played for the following teams:
- Khimik Voskresensk (1977-81)
- CSKA Moscow (1981-89)
- Vancouver Canucks (1989-92)
- HC Lugano (1992-93)
- San Jose Sharks (1993-95)
- Detroit Red Wings (1995-2000, 2000-03)
- Florida Panthers (2000)
- New Jersey Devils (2003-04).
- Brunflo IF (2005-06).
Larionov won three Stanley Cups with Detroit (1997, 1998, 2002). He finished his career by playing two games for the Swedish team Brunflo IK in 2005-06, producing one goal and three assists. Brunflo is the same team that his former linemate in CSKA Moscow and the Soviet Union, Vladimir Krutov, ended his career with ten years earlier.
On the international stage, playing for the Soviet Union, Larionov centered Vladimir Krutov and Sergei Makarov on the famed KLM Line. He won two golds (1984, 1988) and one bronze (2002) in the Olympics, and four golds (1982, 1983, 1986, 1989), one silver (1987), and one bronze (1985) in the World Championships. At the forefront of the Soviet players' battle to win their freedom, Larionov was kicked off the national team by head coach Viktor Tikhonov after suspicion of defection. Only the lobbying of Fetisov and other players brought Larionov back to the squad.
Larionov is married to former figure skater Elena Botanova and has three children. Currently, he is a professional wine merchant.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Vladimir Krutov |
Soviet MVP 1988 |
Succeeded by Sergei Makarov |
Categories: 1960 births | Living people | Russian ice hockey players | Soviet ice hockey players | Olympic ice hockey players of the Soviet Union | Olympic gold medalists for the Soviet Union | Olympic bronze medalists for Russia | Ice hockey players at the 1984 Winter Olympics | Ice hockey players at the 1988 Winter Olympics | National Hockey League All-Stars | Vancouver Canucks players | San Jose Sharks players | Detroit Red Wings players | Florida Panthers players | New Jersey Devils players | Triple Gold Club | Stanley Cup champions | Winter Olympics medalists
