Valeri Vasiliev

For the Russian ice hockey defenceman born 1994, see Valeri Vasilyev.

Valeri Vasiliev
Born (1949-08-03)3 August 1949
Gorky, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Died 19 April 2012(2012-04-19) (aged 62)
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Torpedo Gorky (USSR)
Dynamo Moscow (USSR)
Újpesti TE (Hungary)
National team  Soviet Union
Playing career 1966–1984
1989–1990
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing Soviet Union Soviet Union
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1972 Sapporo Team
Gold medal – first place 1976 Innsbruck Team
Silver medal – second place 1980 Lake Placid Team

Valeri Ivanovich Vasiliev (Russian: Валерий Иванович Васильев; 3 August 1949 – 19 April 2012) was a Soviet ice hockey defenceman, who played for Dynamo Moscow. Internationally he competed for the Soviet Union. An eight-time Soviet all-star, Vasiliev was captain of the national team, for which he played 13 years, and was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 1998. He was born in Gorky, Soviet Union.

Playing career

Vasiliev played on nine Soviet gold medal teams at the IIHF World Championships. He was named the tournament's best defenceman in 1973, 1977, and 1979 and was a five-time all-star. He was on the gold medal team at the 1972 and 1976 Winter Olympics, as well as at the 1981 Canada Cup, where he captained the winning team.[1] He also played in the 1972 Summit Series, 1976 Canada Cup, and 1980 Winter Olympics. He coined the phrase "kiss the ice" after winning in 1972 Winter Olympics. He played in the Soviet Championship League from 1967 to 1984, playing more games than anyone else in the league's history.[2] Vasiliev was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 1998.[3]

In 1978 Vasiliev was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour. Vasiliev, who had won the 1978 world championship not long after he had suffered a heart attack, died from heart failure in 2012.[1]

Career statistics

Regular season

Regular season
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM
1966–67 Torpedo Gorky USSR 2 0 0 0 0
1967–68 Dynamo Moscow USSR 42 2 1 3 28
1968–69 Dynamo Moscow USSR 34 2 1 3 34
1969–70 Dynamo Moscow USSR 43 5 2 7 37
1970–71 Dynamo Moscow USSR 40 2 4 6 36
1971–72 Dynamo Moscow USSR 31 4 0 4 35
1972–73 Dynamo Moscow USSR 29 3 1 4 59
1973–74 Dynamo Moscow USSR 31 4 11 15 42
1974–75 Dynamo Moscow USSR 34 7 5 12 34
1975–76 Dynamo Moscow USSR 28 6 15 21 13
1976–77 Dynamo Moscow USSR 34 3 12 15 21
1977–78 Dynamo Moscow USSR 33 2 6 8 30
1978–79 Dynamo Moscow USSR 42 6 14 20 26
1979–80 Dynamo Moscow USSR 41 8 10 18 26
1980–81 Dynamo Moscow USSR 43 6 7 13 16
1981–82 Dynamo Moscow USSR 36 3 12 15 18
1982–83 Dynamo Moscow USSR 32 5 7 12 16
1983–84 Dynamo Moscow USSR 44 3 7 10 14
1989–90 Újpesti Dózsa SC HUN 15 3 5 8 —
1990–91 EC Ratingen GER-2 15 1 3 4 12
USSR totals 619 71 115 186 485

International

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
1968 Soviet Union EJC 5 2 0 2 2
1969 Soviet Union EJC 5 1 — — —
1970 Soviet Union WC 6 0 0 0 2
1972 Soviet Union OLY 2 0 0 0 2
1972 Soviet Union WC 9 2 2 4 2
1972 Soviet Union SS 8 1 2 3 6
1973 Soviet Union WC 10 0 7 7 6
1974 Soviet Union WC 10 0 6 6 16
1974 Soviet Union SS 8 3 1 4 7
1975 Soviet Union WC 10 2 4 6 0
1976 Soviet Union OLY 6 1 2 3 2
1976 Soviet Union WC 10 5 2 7 8
1976 Soviet Union CC 5 0 3 3 6
1977 Soviet Union WC 10 1 2 3 8
1978 Soviet Union WC 10 3 3 6 6
1979 Soviet Union WC 8 1 3 4 0
1980 Soviet Union OLY 7 2 1 3 2
1981 Soviet Union WC 8 0 0 0 2
1981 Soviet Union CC 6 0 1 1 8
1982 Soviet Union WC 10 1 2 3 0
Senior totals 143 22 41 63 63

References

  1. ^ a b Cazeneuve, Brian (February 12, 2014). "Greatest Russian Hockey Players Of All Time". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  2. ^ Martin 1990, p. 103
  3. ^ "ХАРЛАМОВ, ВАСИЛЬЕВ, ФИРСОВ И ТИХОНОВ ИЗБРАНЫ В ЗАЛ СЛАВЫ ИИХФ". Sport Express (in Russian). Moscow, Russia. June 3, 1988. Retrieved July 3, 2023.

Bibliography