Evgeny Belosheikin
Encyclopedia
Evgeny Vladimirovich Belosheikin (Евгений Белошейкин) (April 17, 1966 – November 18, 1999) was a professional ice hockey
player who played in the Soviet Hockey League. He played for the HC CSKA Moscow
and SKA Leningrad. He also played on the Soviet Union's 1987 Canada Cup
and Rendez-vous '87
teams. He was nicknamed "Evgeny the Great" and was touted as the next Vladislav Tretiak
– and had even been tutored by Tretiak and wore his number 20, though their styles bore little resemblance.
In 1986 Belosheikin was named the outstanding goaltender of the 1986 IIHF World U20 Championships in Hamilton, Canada
. During the tournament the U.S.S.R went undefeated, winning 7 games and surrendering only 14 goals. A year later he was also named the outstanding goaltender in the 1987 Calgary Cup
, a pre-olympic tournament that took place just before the 1987 Canada Cup
. On New Year's Eve 1986, Belosheikin led the Soviets to a 4-1 win over Canada. Belosheikin would end his international career on February 2, 1988 with a 4-1 win in an exhibition game against Finland
.
Though he was considered the heir apparent to Vladislav Tretiak
as the next great Soviet goaltender, Belosheikin suffered problems with alcoholism
. After being drugged and robbed after a night of drinking with teammate Alexei Gusarov
, he suffered liver and vision problems, which hastened the end his career. In 1991 the Edmonton Oilers selected him in the 11th round, 232nd overall in the NHL Entry Draft
, though Belosheikin reported to camp that year, he was immediately sent to the Oilers Cape Breton affiliate
where he played only 3 games. Belosheikin never did play a game in the NHL.
Belosheikin committed suicide
on November 18, 1999.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player who played in the Soviet Hockey League. He played for the HC CSKA Moscow
HC CSKA Moscow
HC CSKA Moscow is a Russian ice hockey club that plays in the Kontinental Hockey League. It is referred to in the West as "Central Red Army" or the "Red Army Team" for its past affiliation with the Soviet Army, popularly known as the Red Army...
and SKA Leningrad. He also played on the Soviet Union's 1987 Canada Cup
1987 Canada Cup
The 1987 Canada Cup was a professional international ice hockey tournament held from August 28 to September 15, 1987. The finals took place in Montreal on September 11 and Hamilton, Ontario, on September 13 and September 15, and were won by Team Canada....
and Rendez-vous '87
Rendez-vous '87
Rendez-vous '87 was an international ice hockey series of games between the Soviet national ice hockey team and a team of All-Stars from the National Hockey League, held in Quebec City. It replaced the NHL's All-Star festivities for the 1986–87 NHL season...
teams. He was nicknamed "Evgeny the Great" and was touted as the next Vladislav Tretiak
Vladislav Tretiak
Vladislav Aleksandrovich Tretiak, MSM is a former goaltender for the Soviet Union's national ice hockey team. Considered to be one of the greatest goaltenders in the history of the sport, he was voted one of six players to the International Ice Hockey Federation's Centennial All-Star Team in a...
– and had even been tutored by Tretiak and wore his number 20, though their styles bore little resemblance.
In 1986 Belosheikin was named the outstanding goaltender of the 1986 IIHF World U20 Championships in Hamilton, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. During the tournament the U.S.S.R went undefeated, winning 7 games and surrendering only 14 goals. A year later he was also named the outstanding goaltender in the 1987 Calgary Cup
Calgary Cup
The Calgary Cup was a four-team ice hockey tournament held from December 26, 1986 to January 3, 1987 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was a preview event for the 1988 Winter Olympics, and featured the national hockey teams of Canada, Czechoslovakia, the Soviet Union and the United States...
, a pre-olympic tournament that took place just before the 1987 Canada Cup
1987 Canada Cup
The 1987 Canada Cup was a professional international ice hockey tournament held from August 28 to September 15, 1987. The finals took place in Montreal on September 11 and Hamilton, Ontario, on September 13 and September 15, and were won by Team Canada....
. On New Year's Eve 1986, Belosheikin led the Soviets to a 4-1 win over Canada. Belosheikin would end his international career on February 2, 1988 with a 4-1 win in an exhibition game against Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
Though he was considered the heir apparent to Vladislav Tretiak
Vladislav Tretiak
Vladislav Aleksandrovich Tretiak, MSM is a former goaltender for the Soviet Union's national ice hockey team. Considered to be one of the greatest goaltenders in the history of the sport, he was voted one of six players to the International Ice Hockey Federation's Centennial All-Star Team in a...
as the next great Soviet goaltender, Belosheikin suffered problems with alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
. After being drugged and robbed after a night of drinking with teammate Alexei Gusarov
Alexei Gusarov
Alexei Vasilievich Gusarov is a Russian ice hockey player . He played for the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues.Gusarov won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996...
, he suffered liver and vision problems, which hastened the end his career. In 1991 the Edmonton Oilers selected him in the 11th round, 232nd overall in the NHL Entry Draft
1991 NHL Entry Draft
The 1991 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 22 at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. A total of 264 players were drafted. The draft was famous for the controversy surrounding star first overall draft pick, touted by some observers to be The Next One, Eric Lindros, who was drafted by the...
, though Belosheikin reported to camp that year, he was immediately sent to the Oilers Cape Breton affiliate
Cape Breton Oilers
The Cape Breton Oilers were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team relocated from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1988 and was renamed for Cape Breton Island. Home games were played in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, at Centre 200...
where he played only 3 games. Belosheikin never did play a game in the NHL.
Belosheikin committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
on November 18, 1999.
External links
- http://www.peoples.ru/sport/hockey/evgeniy_belosheikin/