Helmuts Balderis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Helmuts Balderis |
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Balderis in 2014
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| Born | 31 July 1952 Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union |
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| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Right Wing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shot | Left | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Played for | Dinamo Riga CSKA Moscow Minnesota North Stars |
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| National team |  Soviet Union and Latvia |
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| NHL Draft | 238th overall, 1989 Minnesota North Stars |
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| Playing career | 1973–1985 1989–1996 |
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Medal record
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Helmuts Balderis-Sildedzis, born on July 31, 1952, is a famous former ice hockey player from Latvia. He was known for playing as a right winger. Helmuts played for the Soviet Union's national team and later for Latvia's national team. He is especially remembered for being part of the Soviet team that lost to the United States in the 1980 Winter Olympics, an event often called the "Miracle on Ice." He also made history by becoming the oldest player ever drafted by an NHL team at age 36. In 1998, he was honored by being added to the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame.
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Helmuts Balderis' Ice Hockey Journey
Helmuts Balderis played ice hockey in the Soviet Hockey League for many years. He started with Dinamo Riga in 1969. He played there until 1977. Then, he moved to CSKA Moscow from 1977 to 1980. This move was a requirement for him to join the top Soviet national team.
Helmuts was a fantastic scorer. He was the top scorer in the Soviet League in 1977 and 1984. In 1977, he was also named the Player of the Year. He was the best player from the Latvian SSR during the 1970s and 1980s. He scored an amazing 333 goals in Soviet league games.
Playing for the Soviet National Team
Balderis played for the Soviet national team in many big tournaments. He won a silver medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics. He also earned gold medals at the World Championships in 1978, 1979, and 1983. Overall, he played in five World Championships, the 1976 Canada Cup, and the 1980 Winter Olympics. In the 1977 World Championships, he was named the Best Forward. After 1980, he returned to play for Dinamo Riga.
NHL and Later Career
In 1985, Balderis stopped playing and became a coach in Japan. But he came back to play in 1989. This was when Soviet players were allowed to join the NHL. The Minnesota North Stars picked him in the draft. He played 26 games for them, scoring 3 goals and getting 6 assists. He set a record as the oldest player ever drafted by an NHL team (at 36 years old). He also became the oldest player to score his first NHL goal (at 37).
After one season in the NHL, he retired again. However, he returned to play a second time when Latvia became an independent country. In 1992, Balderis played several games for the new Latvian national team. He was even the team captain and scored 2 goals. Later, he coached the team and worked as its general manager. As of 2017, he is a board member of the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation.
Awards and Honors
Helmuts Balderis received many awards during his impressive career:
- Soviet League First All-Star Team (1977)
- Izvestia Trophy (Soviet League Top Scorer) (1977, 1983)
- Soviet League Player of the Year (1977)
- World Championships All-Star Team (1977)
- Named Best Forward at the World Championships (1977)
- Leading Scorer of the Latvian League (1993)
- In 1998, he was added to the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame.
