| Since coming over to the NHL from his native Russia,
Viacheslav (Slava) Fetisov has quietly and steadily become recognized as an NHL force.
Following a period of adjustment to North American life and hockey, Fetisov is now known
as one of the cagiest and smartest defensemen today. Too bad we didn't get to see him in his prime!
Fetisov, like his comrades Igor Larionov and Sergei Makarov,
is a Legend in Russian sport. Under the old communist regime, he had no choice or hopes of
ever playing in the NHL and chasing the Stanley Cup, but after years of battling, Fetisov
was cleared to play with New Jersey in 1989.
But Fetisov needed not to play in the NHL to be placed on the
list as a legend of hockey. While it is a joy to watch him play now, his contributions to
the game in his pre-NHL days are truly what makes him a legend.
Fetisov is a national hero in Russia. He was a longtime
captain of the Central Red Army team, the team he started his career with in 1974. Fetisov
earned the Soviet Honoured Masters of Sport Award, an honour much like that of the Hockey
Hall of Fame. A three time winner of the Gold Stick Award as Europe’s top player and
a three time Soviet Player of the Year, Fetisov was also a nine-time Soviet League
All-Star. Fetisov was awarded the Pravda Trophy four times as the league’s best
defenceman.
Fetisov represented his country on the international stage
many times. A two time gold medalist and one time silver medalist, he played in three
Winter Olympic Games for Russia (1980 1984 and 1988). Eleven times he played in the World
Championships, winning seven gold medals with Russia. Fetisov also played for Team Russia
in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and previous to that in the Canada Cup tournaments.
When Fetisov was with the Red Army, North American's dubbed
him the Soviet Bobby Orr. While he has a lost a step or two offensively since coming to
the NHL, the 39 year old has established himself as one of the leagues best defensive
defensemen and has helped younger players immensly, including possible future Legends of
Hockey Scott Neidermayer, Vladimir Konstantinov and Niklas Lidstrom.
Fetisov and Igor Larionov realized a long time dream by
helping the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup in 1997, and again in 1998. It wasn't that long
ago that that dream was nothing more than a dream in itself.
In his 546-game NHL career, Fetisov compiled 36 goals and 192
assists for 228 points with 656 penalty minutes. He compiled two goals and 12 assists in
58 games for Detroit in 1997-98.
Freedom Fighter
Slava Fetisov is the Russian Bobby Orr. Quite simply he may
have been better than Orr. But despite all of his incredible athletic achievements, his
greatest legacy was his six month struggle against the Soviet government so he and others
like him, could leave the Motherland and persue careers elsewhere.
In an incredible book called "For The Love of
Hockey," Fetisov is quoted as saying:
"The Soviet minister of defense tried to scare me,
demanding that I apologize for asking to leave. He gave me an ultimatum: apologize of be
sent to Siberia, where we will make life very difficult for you. I know that if I took
even a small step back, I would be in deep trouble. I faced a lot of intimidation; most of
my friends were afraid to talk to me. It was the toughest time of my life, but I finally
won the war. I was the first Soviet to sign a direct contract (with the NHL), and I'm
proud to say that not only hockey players followed me. The door opened for people in every
profession."
No wonder why Viacheslav Fetisov is an immortal hero in the
Motherland. |
