Viacheslav Fetisov

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Olympic medal record
Men's Ice Hockey
Gold	1984 Sarajevo	Team
Gold	1988 Calgary	Team
Silver	1980 Lake Placid	Team

Viacheslav (Slava) Alexandrovich Fetisov (Russian: Вячеслав (Слава) Александрович Фетисов, Vjačeslav (Slava) Aleksandrovič Fetisov; born April 20, 1958, in Moscow, Soviet Union now Russia) is the current Minister of Sport in Russia, and a former ice hockey defenseman, considered one of the best defensemen of all time, a long-time captain for the Soviet Union national team. With Igor Larionov, he was instrumental in breaking the barrier that stopped Soviet players from joining the NHL. Fetisov was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.

On the international stage, Fetisov is one of the most decorated players ever, winning two golds (1984, 1988) and one silver (1980) in the Olympics, and seven golds (1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1990), one silver (1987), and two bronzes (1985, 1991) in the World Championships. He won the Golden Hockey Stick as top European international player in 1984, 1986, and 1990. At the 2002 Olympics, he was head coach of the Russian national team, winning the bronze.

On the club level, Fetisov played for CSKA Moscow (1975-89), New Jersey Devils (1989-95) and Detroit Red Wings (1995-98). He won two Stanley Cups with Detroit (1997, 1998). After retiring as a player, Fetisov became an assistant coach with New Jersey (1999-2002), winning the Stanley Cup in 2000.

Fetisov was awarded Order of the Red Banner of Labour (1984)^[1]

In his heyday, many referred to Fetisov as the Russian Bobby Orr. However, Canadian hockey commentator Don Cherry, a former coach of Orr who has said that Orr is the best player he has ever seen, has expressed serious dislike of Fetisov and has frequently questioned his sportsmanship. [1]

[edit] The June 13,1997 Crash

Following a private party on June 13, 1997 celebrating the Red Wings’ Stanley Cup triumph, Fetisov, along with teammate Vladimir Konstantinov, and team masseuse Sergei Mnatsakanov hired a limousine to drive them home. The driver, Richard Gnida, whose license was suspended at the time for drunk driving, lost control of the limousine and hit a tree on the median of Woodward Avenue, just outside the Detroit city limits. Konstantinov spent several weeks in a coma before finally pulling through. He also suffered from serious head injuries and paralysis while Fetisov escaped with relatively minor injuries and was able to play the following season. Mnatsakanov sustained heavy head injuries and also spent some time in a coma; he hasn't recovered at all compared to Konstantinov, who at times can walk with the assistance of a walker. The driver was charged with and convicted of driving with a suspended license.

[edit] References

1. ^ (1985) Panorama of the 1984 Sports Year (in Russian). Moscow: Physical Culture and Sports publisher, p. 37. 

[edit] External links

• Fetisov at Hockey CCCP International
• Career Stats
• More Career Stats

Preceded by Sergei Makarov	Soviet MVP 1986	Succeeded by Vladimir Krutov
Preceded by Vladislav Tretiak	Soviet MVP 1982	Succeeded by Vladislav Tretiak