Viacheslav Fetisov
Encyclopedia
Viacheslav "Slava" Alexandrovich Fetisov (Russian: Вячеслав (Слава) Александрович Фетисов, Vjačeslav (Slava) Aleksandrovič Fetisov; born April 20, 1958) is a retired professional ice hockey
defenseman
. He played for HC CSKA Moscow
for 11 seasons before joining the National Hockey League
(NHL), where he played with the New Jersey Devils
and won back-to-back Stanley Cup
s with the Detroit Red Wings
. Fetisov was instrumental in breaking the barrier that stopped Soviet players from joining the NHL. Internationally, he was a long-time captain for the Soviet Union national team
and won two gold medals at the Winter Olympics. Considered one of the best defensemen of all time, he was voted as one of six players to the International Ice Hockey Federation
's (IIHF) Centennial All-Star Team
.
After retiring as a player, Fetisov embarked on a political and executive career. He is currently a member of the upper house of the Federal Assembly of Russia
, president of professional Russian hockey club HC CSKA Moscow
of the Kontinental Hockey League
(KHL), chairman of the Board of Directors of the KHL and chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency
(WADA) Athletes Committee. He was also the Minister of Sport in Russia from 2002 to 2008.
's junior team at sixteen years old. He joined the senior team in the Soviet Championship League in 1978–79 and recorded 29 points in 29 games as a rookie. In his fourth season, Fetisov reeled off 41 points in 46 games to be named the 1982 USSR Player of the Year. Four seasons later, he won his second Player of the Year recognition after a 34-point campaign in 1985–86.
and submitted a request to Soviet officials. However, Soviet players defecting to North America was strictly discouraged at the time and his request was met with great resistance. Fetisov has recalled the Soviet Minister of Defence giving him an ultimatum at the time to either apologize or be sent to play in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Nevertheless, at the age of 31, helped by the Soviets' newfound glasnost
policy, Fetisov led a group of eight Soviet players, including Helmut Balderis, Vladimir Krutov
, Igor Larionov
, Sergei Makarov
, Sergei Mylnikov
, Sergei Priakin and Sergei Starikov
, into the NHL. Soviet hockey officials agreed to allow Soviet players to play in the NHL as long as they continued to compete internationally for the Soviet Union.
Fetisov had been drafted by the Montreal Canadiens
in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft eleven years prior. However, unable to play in North America at the time, he was re-entered into the 1983 NHL Entry Draft
, where he was selected by the New Jersey Devils
. Fetisov debuted with the Devils in 1989–90 and recorded eight goals and 42 points, both NHL career-highs for Fetisov.
He played in New Jersey until 1994–95, when he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings
in April 1995. While at the Red Wings, he played alongside Mike Ramsey, who was one of his opponents in the Miracle on Ice
game at the 1980 Winter Olympics
. Fetisov began producing immediately with the Red Wings, scoring 14 points in 14 games to finish the season after the trade. He helped the Red Wings to the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals
, where they were defeated by his former team, the Devils. The following season, Fetisov matched his career high in points with a 42-point campaign in 1995–96. He was named to his first NHL All-Star Game in 1997, then won back-to-back Stanley Cup
s with Detroit in 1997
and 1998
, before announcing his retirement. He took the Stanley Cup to Moscow
after the 1997 championship, where the trophy appeared for the first time in Russia.
turned to Fetisov, president of the club, in need of a replacement for injured defenseman Denis Kulyash
. CSKA Moscow lost the game 2–3 to SKA St. Petersburg.
, where he won Top Defenseman honors during the 1975–76 season, en route to two consecutive gold medals at the tournament. He then helped the Soviets to three consecutive gold medals at the World Junior Championships
from 1976
to 1978
, taking back-to-back Top Defenseman honors in 1977
and 1978.
With the Soviet national team, Fetisov won two golds (1984
, 1988
) one silver (1980
) in the Olympics
, and seven golds (1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1990), one silver (1987), two bronzes (1985, 1991) in the World Championships
, one Canada Cup in 1981, and Ice Hockey World Junior Championship in 1978. At the 2002 Olympics
, he was head coach of the Russian national team
, winning the bronze. Fetisov and team mate Igor Larionov
, along with Scott Niedermayer
and Joe Sakic
, are the only players to win the Stanley Cup, World Ice Hockey Champions, Ice Hockey at the Winter Olympics, World Ice Hockey Junior Championship, and Canada/World Cup Championship.
in Salt Lake City, where Russia won bronze. He was succeeded as general manager by Pavel Bure
for the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Turin
.
On March 29, 2005, Fetisov joined the World Anti-Doping Agency
's Athlete Committee as its inaugural chairman.
In 2009, he became president of HC CSKA Moscow
. Following the injuries of CSKA's several key defenders, Fetisov, aged 51 at the time, signed a player's contract until the end of 2009/2010 season, resuming his playing career after eleven years.
In his home country, Fetisov has been awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
in 1984, the Order of Lenin
in 1988, the Order Of Service To The Fatherland 4th class in 2000 and 3rd class 2005, the Order Of Honour in 1998, the Order of Friendship in 2007, and two Orders of the Badge of Honor
. On October 22, 1981, Russian astronomer Nikolai Chernykh discovered a main-belt asteroid from the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory
in Ukraine
. The asteroid was named the 8806 Fetisov
after Fetisov.
In North America, Fetisov was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame
on November 12, 2001, along with Mike Gartner
, Dale Hawerchuk
and Jari Kurri
. Internationally, he has been recognized by the IIHF in the International Centennial All-Star Team
. He received the most votes out of all players in a poll conducted by a group of 56 experts from 16 countries (54 of which voted for Fetisov) to assemble the historic squad.
system.
Twelve years later, following a private party on June 13, 1997, Fetisov, along with teammate Vladimir Konstantinov
and team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov, hired a limousine to drive them home after celebrating the Detroit Red Wings
' Stanley Cup triumph. 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, in Birmingham, Michigan, a suburb north of Detroit. 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 has had a considerably more difficult recovery than Konstantinov. The driver was charged with and convicted of driving with a suspended license.
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...
defenseman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
. He played for 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...
for 11 seasons before joining the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL), where he played with the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and won back-to-back Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
. Fetisov was instrumental in breaking the barrier that stopped Soviet players from joining the NHL. Internationally, he was a long-time captain for the Soviet Union national team
Soviet national ice hockey team
The Soviet national ice hockey team , was the national hockey team of the Soviet Union. The Soviets were the most dominant team of all time in international play. The team won nearly every world championship and Olympic tournament between 1954 and 1991 held by the International Ice Hockey Federation...
and won two gold medals at the Winter Olympics. Considered one of the best defensemen of all time, he was voted as one of six players to the International Ice Hockey Federation
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
's (IIHF) Centennial All-Star Team
IIHF Centennial All-Star Team
The IIHF Centennial All-Star Team is an all-star team of hockey players from international ice hockey tournaments. The selection was organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation and named in 2008...
.
After retiring as a player, Fetisov embarked on a political and executive career. He is currently a member of the upper house of the Federal Assembly of Russia
Federal Assembly of Russia
The Federal Assembly of Russia is the legislature of the Russian Federation, according to the Constitution of Russian Federation, 1993...
, president of professional Russian hockey club 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...
of the Kontinental Hockey League
Kontinental Hockey League
The Kontinental Hockey League is an international professional ice hockey league in Eurasia founded in 2008. As of 2009, it is ranked as the strongest hockey league in Europe....
(KHL), chairman of the Board of Directors of the KHL and chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency
World Anti-Doping Agency
The World Anti-Doping Agency , , is an independent foundation created through a collective initiative led by the International Olympic Committee . It was set up on November 10, 1999 in Lausanne, Switzerland, as a result of what was called the "Declaration of Lausanne", to promote, coordinate and...
(WADA) Athletes Committee. He was also the Minister of Sport in Russia from 2002 to 2008.
CSKA Moscow (1978–89)
Fetisov debuted for CSKA MoscowHC 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...
's junior team at sixteen years old. He joined the senior team in the Soviet Championship League in 1978–79 and recorded 29 points in 29 games as a rookie. In his fourth season, Fetisov reeled off 41 points in 46 games to be named the 1982 USSR Player of the Year. Four seasons later, he won his second Player of the Year recognition after a 34-point campaign in 1985–86.
NHL career (1989–98)
Fetisov soon expressed a desire to play in the NHLNational Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and submitted a request to Soviet officials. However, Soviet players defecting to North America was strictly discouraged at the time and his request was met with great resistance. Fetisov has recalled the Soviet Minister of Defence giving him an ultimatum at the time to either apologize or be sent to play in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Nevertheless, at the age of 31, helped by the Soviets' newfound glasnost
Glasnost
Glasnost was the policy of maximal publicity, openness, and transparency in the activities of all government institutions in the Soviet Union, together with freedom of information, introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev in the second half of the 1980s...
policy, Fetisov led a group of eight Soviet players, including Helmut Balderis, Vladimir Krutov
Vladimir Krutov
Vladimir Yevgenyevich Krutov born June 1, 1960) is a former Soviet hockey forward. Together with Igor Larionov and Sergei Makarov, he was part of the famed KLM Line...
, Igor Larionov
Igor Larionov
Igor Nikolayevich Larionov is a Russian retired professional ice hockey player, known as The Professor. Along with Viacheslav Fetisov, he was instrumental in breaking the barrier that stopped Soviet players from joining the National Hockey League . He primarily played the centre position, and is...
, Sergei Makarov
Sergei Makarov
Sergei Mikhailovich Makarov is a Russian former ice hockey right wing and two-time Olympic gold medalist, regarded as one of the greatest players to play the sport...
, Sergei Mylnikov
Sergei Mylnikov
Sergei Aleksandrovich Mylnikov is a retired ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League and National Hockey League. He played for Traktor Chelyabinsk, SKA Leningrad, and briefly for the Quebec Nordiques...
, Sergei Priakin and Sergei Starikov
Sergei Starikov
Sergei Viktorovich Starikov is a Russian ice hockey coach, who competed as defenseman for the Soviet national team....
, into the NHL. Soviet hockey officials agreed to allow Soviet players to play in the NHL as long as they continued to compete internationally for the Soviet Union.
Fetisov had been drafted by the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft eleven years prior. However, unable to play in North America at the time, he was re-entered into the 1983 NHL Entry Draft
1983 NHL Entry Draft
The 1983 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, on June 8, 1983. The NHL Entry Draft is the primary means by which players arrive in the National Hockey League. The St. Louis Blues did not participate in this draft, shortly after the league blocked the franchise's...
, where he was selected by the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. Fetisov debuted with the Devils in 1989–90 and recorded eight goals and 42 points, both NHL career-highs for Fetisov.
He played in New Jersey until 1994–95, when he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
in April 1995. While at the Red Wings, he played alongside Mike Ramsey, who was one of his opponents in the Miracle on Ice
Miracle on Ice
The "Miracle on Ice" is the name in American popular culture for a medal-round men's ice hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, on Friday, February 22...
game at the 1980 Winter Olympics
1980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
. Fetisov began producing immediately with the Red Wings, scoring 14 points in 14 games to finish the season after the trade. He helped the Red Wings to the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals
1995 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1995 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the New Jersey Devils and the Detroit Red Wings. This was the first of nine consecutive finals with American franchises exclusively. New Jersey was making the franchise's first-ever appearance in the Final, while Detroit returned...
, where they were defeated by his former team, the Devils. The following season, Fetisov matched his career high in points with a 42-point campaign in 1995–96. He was named to his first NHL All-Star Game in 1997, then won back-to-back Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s with Detroit in 1997
1997 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1997 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Detroit Red Wings and the Philadelphia Flyers. Detroit was in the Final for the second time in three years while the Flyers were making their first appearance since the 1987 Final...
and 1998
1998 Stanley Cup Finals
- Detroit Red Wings - 1998 Stanley Cup Champions :- Stanley Cup engravings :* Wally Crossman was oldest person engraved on the Stanley Cup at age 87....
, before announcing his retirement. He took the Stanley Cup to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
after the 1997 championship, where the trophy appeared for the first time in Russia.
One-game return (2009)
Nearly eleven years later after his retirement, Fetisov came out of retirement at the age of 51 to play for CSKA Moscow in a one-game return on December 11, 2009. Head coach Sergei NemchinovSergei Nemchinov
Sergei Lvovich Nemchinov is a retired Russian ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders and the New Jersey Devils for twelve seasons, bookended by ten seasons in the Soviet Championship League with PHC Krylya Sovetov...
turned to Fetisov, president of the club, in need of a replacement for injured defenseman Denis Kulyash
Denis Kulyash
Denis Kulyash is a professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League . Kulyash has been a long-time member of Russia's national ice hockey team known for his extremely hard slap shot, which gained him a nickname "Tsar Cannon"...
. CSKA Moscow lost the game 2–3 to SKA St. Petersburg.
International play
On the international stage, Fetisov is one of the most decorated players ever. As a junior, Fetisov competed for the Soviet Union at the European Junior ChampionshipsEuropean Junior Championships
The European Junior Championships can refer to:*European Athletics Junior Championships*European Junior Swimming Championships*European Junior Badminton Championships*European Junior Chess Championship*IIHF European Junior Championships...
, where he won Top Defenseman honors during the 1975–76 season, en route to two consecutive gold medals at the tournament. He then helped the Soviets to three consecutive gold medals at the World Junior Championships
World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world...
from 1976
1976 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
-Scoring leaders:-Tournament awards:-References:* . Retrieved 2011-10-18....
to 1978
1978 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
-Blue group:-Group B:-Group A:-Gold medal game:-Leading scorers:-Tournament awards:-Blue group:-Group B:-Group A:-Gold medal game:-Leading scorers:-Tournament awards:-Blue group:...
, taking back-to-back Top Defenseman honors in 1977
1977 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
-Scoring leaders:-Tournament awards:...
and 1978.
With the Soviet national team, Fetisov won two golds (1984
Ice hockey at the 1984 Winter Olympics
At the 1984 Winter Olympics held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, one ice hockey event was held: men's ice hockey. Most of the games were held at the Olympic Hall Zetra and some of the games in Skenderija II olympic hall.-Medalists:Source:* Gold -...
, 1988
Ice hockey at the 1988 Winter Olympics
At the 1988 Winter Olympics one ice hockey event was held, men's ice hockey. Games were played at the Olympic Saddledome, the Stampede Corral, and Father David Bauer Olympic Arena in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.Source:* Gold - * Silver -...
) one silver (1980
Ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics was held at the Olympic Arena and the Olympic Fieldhouse in Lake Placid, New York. Twelve teams competed in the tournament, which was held from February 12 to February 24...
) in the Olympics
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
, and seven golds (1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1990), one silver (1987), two bronzes (1985, 1991) in the World Championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
, one Canada Cup in 1981, and Ice Hockey World Junior Championship in 1978. At the 2002 Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics were held at the E Center in West Valley City and Peaks Ice Arena in Provo, Utah. Both the men's and women's tournaments were won by Canada, defeating the host USA in both games.-Men:...
, he was head coach of the Russian national team
Russian national ice hockey team
The Russian men's national ice hockey team is the national ice hockey team of Russia and are controlled by the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia. They are currently rated number one in the IIHF World Ranking; with 3980 points...
, winning the bronze. Fetisov and team mate Igor Larionov
Igor Larionov
Igor Nikolayevich Larionov is a Russian retired professional ice hockey player, known as The Professor. Along with Viacheslav Fetisov, he was instrumental in breaking the barrier that stopped Soviet players from joining the National Hockey League . He primarily played the centre position, and is...
, along with Scott Niedermayer
Scott Niedermayer
Scott Niedermayer is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for two teams: the New Jersey Devils and the Anaheim Ducks. Niedermayer was known for his skating stride, and ability for leading or joining the offensive rush...
and Joe Sakic
Joe Sakic
Joseph Steven "Joe" Sakic is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player and current hockey executive. He played his entire National Hockey League career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. In his 20-year tenure, Sakic won the Stanley Cup twice, captured numerous NHL...
, are the only players to win the Stanley Cup, World Ice Hockey Champions, Ice Hockey at the Winter Olympics, World Ice Hockey Junior Championship, and Canada/World Cup Championship.
Coaching career
Fetisov became an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils following his playing career and won the Stanley Cup with the club in 2000 during his three-year tenure (1999–2002).Executive career
Following his tenure as assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils, Fetisov was named general manager of the Russian national team for the 2002 Winter OlympicsIce hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics were held at the E Center in West Valley City and Peaks Ice Arena in Provo, Utah. Both the men's and women's tournaments were won by Canada, defeating the host USA in both games.-Men:...
in Salt Lake City, where Russia won bronze. He was succeeded as general manager by Pavel Bure
Pavel Bure
Pavel Vladimirovich Bure is a retired Russian professional ice hockey right winger. Nicknamed "The Russian Rocket" for his speed, Bure played for 12 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers and New York Rangers...
for the 2006 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics
-Leading scorers:-Leading goaltenders:Goalkeepers with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.-Awards:Antero Niittymäki was named the most valuable player and received the Directorate Award for best goaltender of the tournament. Directorate Awards also went to Teemu Selänne for best forward, and...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
.
On March 29, 2005, Fetisov joined the World Anti-Doping Agency
World Anti-Doping Agency
The World Anti-Doping Agency , , is an independent foundation created through a collective initiative led by the International Olympic Committee . It was set up on November 10, 1999 in Lausanne, Switzerland, as a result of what was called the "Declaration of Lausanne", to promote, coordinate and...
's Athlete Committee as its inaugural chairman.
In 2009, he became president of 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...
. Following the injuries of CSKA's several key defenders, Fetisov, aged 51 at the time, signed a player's contract until the end of 2009/2010 season, resuming his playing career after eleven years.
Honors
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
in 1984, the Order of Lenin
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
in 1988, the Order Of Service To The Fatherland 4th class in 2000 and 3rd class 2005, the Order Of Honour in 1998, the Order of Friendship in 2007, and two Orders of the Badge of Honor
Order of the Badge of Honor
The Order of the Badge of Honour was a civilian award of the Soviet Union.It was instituted on 25 November 1935 and conferred on citizens of the USSR for outstanding achievements in production, scientific research and social, cultural and other forms of social activity, for promotion of economic,...
. On October 22, 1981, Russian astronomer Nikolai Chernykh discovered a main-belt asteroid from the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory
Crimean Astrophysical Observatory
The Crimean Astrophysical Observatory is located in Ukraine. CrAO has been publishing the Bulletin of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory since 1947, in English since 1977. The observatory facilities are located near the settlement of Nauchny since the mid-1950s; before that, they were further...
in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. The asteroid was named the 8806 Fetisov
8806 Fetisov
8806 Fetisov is a main-belt asteroid discovered on October 22, 1981 by N. S. Chernykh at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory.Named after ice hockey player Viacheslav Fetisov.- External links :*...
after Fetisov.
In North America, Fetisov was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
on November 12, 2001, along with Mike Gartner
Mike Gartner
Michael Alfred Gartner is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Washington Capitals, Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Phoenix Coyotes...
, Dale Hawerchuk
Dale Hawerchuk
Dale Hawerchuk is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for 16 seasons. He won the NHL's Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's Rookie of the Year in 1982 and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in his second year of eligibility in 2001...
and Jari Kurri
Jari Kurri
Jari Pekka Kurri is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey right winger and a five-time Stanley Cup champion. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. He is currently the general manager of Team Finland....
. Internationally, he has been recognized by the IIHF in the International Centennial All-Star Team
IIHF Centennial All-Star Team
The IIHF Centennial All-Star Team is an all-star team of hockey players from international ice hockey tournaments. The selection was organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation and named in 2008...
. He received the most votes out of all players in a poll conducted by a group of 56 experts from 16 countries (54 of which voted for Fetisov) to assemble the historic squad.
Personal life
In June 1985, Fetisov was involved in a car accident that killed his younger brother Anatoly, who was 18 years old at the time and a prospect within the HC CSKA MoscowHC 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...
system.
Twelve years later, following a private party on June 13, 1997, Fetisov, along with teammate Vladimir Konstantinov
Vladimir Konstantinov
Vladimir Nikolaevich Konstantinov is a Russian retired professional ice hockey player who played his entire National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings. Previously, he had played for Soviet club CSKA Moscow...
and team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov, hired a limousine to drive them home after celebrating the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
' Stanley Cup triumph. 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, in Birmingham, Michigan, a suburb north of Detroit. 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 has had a considerably more difficult recovery than Konstantinov. The driver was charged with and convicted of driving with a suspended license.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1978–79 | 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... |
Soviet | 29 | 10 | 19 | 29 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | CSKA Moscow | Soviet | 37 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1980–81 | CSKA Moscow | Soviet | — | 13 | 16 | 29 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981–82 | CSKA Moscow | Soviet | 46 | 15 | 26 | 41 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1982–83 | CSKA Moscow | Soviet | 43 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1983–84 | CSKA Moscow | Soviet | 44 | 19 | 30 | 49 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | CSKA Moscow | Soviet | 20 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 | CSKA Moscow | Soviet | 40 | 15 | 19 | 34 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | CSKA Moscow | Soviet | 39 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | CSKA Moscow | Soviet | 46 | 18 | 17 | 35 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | CSKA Moscow | Soviet | 23 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | New Jersey Devils New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
72 | 8 | 34 | 42 | 52 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | ||
| 1990–91 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 67 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 62 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | ||
| 1991–92 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 70 | 3 | 23 | 26 | 108 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 1992–93 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 76 | 4 | 23 | 27 | 158 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 1993–94 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 52 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 30 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | ||
| 1994–95 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... |
NHL | 14 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 14 | ||
| 1995–96 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 69 | 7 | 35 | 42 | 96 | 19 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 34 | ||
| 1996–97 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 64 | 5 | 23 | 28 | 76 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 42 | ||
| 1997–98 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 58 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 72 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 KHL season The 2009–10 KHL season was the second season of the Kontinental Hockey League. It was held from 10 September 2009 to 27 April 2010, with a break for the Olympic winter games from 8 February to 3 March... |
CSKA Moscow | KHL Kontinental Hockey League The Kontinental Hockey League is an international professional ice hockey league in Eurasia founded in 2008. As of 2009, it is ranked as the strongest hockey league in Europe.... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Soviet totals | 367 | 141 | 198 | 339 | 314 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| NHL totals | 546 | 36 | 192 | 228 | 656 | 116 | 2 | 26 | 28 | 145 | ||||
| KHL totals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
Honours and awards
- Order of Merit for the FatherlandOrder of Merit for the FatherlandThe Order of Merit for the Fatherland was instituted on 2 March 1994 by Presidential Decree. The statutes describe it as a decoration for merit, not an order of knights....
;- 3rd class (4 November 2005) - for outstanding contribution to the development of physical culture and sport, the successful performance of the Russian national team at the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens in 2004
- 4th class (25 August 2000) - for his great personal contribution to the development of Russian hockey
- Order of Honour (23 August 1998) - for outstanding contribution to the development of national sport
- Order of FriendshipOrder of FriendshipThe Order of Friendship is a state decoration of Russia established by decree # 442 of March 2, 1994 of the President of the Russian Federation....
(6 August 2007) - for active participation in efforts to ensure the victory of the application of Sochi to host the XXII Winter Olympics and XI Paralympics in 2014 - Order of LeninOrder of LeninThe Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
(1988) - Order of the Red Banner of LabourOrder of the Red Banner of LabourThe Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
(1984) - Order of the Badge of Honour, twice (1978, 1981)
- Honoured Worker of Physical Culture, Russia (16 April 2008) - for services in the development of physical culture and sports
- Silver Olympic OrderOlympic OrderThe Olympic Order is the highest award of the Olympic Movement, created by the International Olympic Committee in May 1975 as a successor to the Olympic Certificate previously awarded. The Olympic Order originally had three grades , although the bronze grade was retired in 1984...
(IOC) - Honored Master of Sports (1978)
- Badge "For Services to the Moscow region"
- UNESCO Champion for Sport
- "Russian Diamond" (2007) - for his services and achievements in sport