Oleg Tverdovsky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oleg Tverdovsky
Born	(1976-05-18) 18 May 1976 (age 49) Donetsk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	211 lb (96 kg; 15 st 1 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Krylya Sovetov Moscow Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Winnipeg Jets Phoenix Coyotes New Jersey Devils Avangard Omsk Carolina Hurricanes Los Angeles Kings Salavat Yulaev Ufa Metallurg Magnitogorsk
National team	Russia
NHL Draft	2nd overall, 1994 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Playing career	1992–2013

Oleg Tverdovsky (born May 18, 1976) is a former professional ice hockey player from Russia. He played as a defenceman, which is a player who helps protect their team's goal. Oleg played hockey professionally from 1994 to 2013.

He was picked very early in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, as the second player overall, by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He played 713 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for teams like the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, and Los Angeles Kings. Oleg won the famous Stanley Cup twice. He won it with the Devils in 2003 and again with the Hurricanes in 2006.

Oleg also played in top Russian hockey leagues. These included the Russian Superleague (RSL) and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He played for teams like Avangard Omsk, Salavat Yulayev Ufa, and Metallurg Magnitogorsk. He won two RSL Championships, one in 2004 and another in 2008. Later, he won the Gagarin Cup in 2011 with Salavat Yulaev Ufa.

Oleg's Hockey Journey

Starting in the NHL

Oleg Tverdovsky was chosen as the second player in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The 1994–95 NHL season started late because of a player lockout. So, Oleg first played seven games for the Brandon Wheat Kings in a junior league called the Western Hockey League.

When he finally played for the Mighty Ducks, he made a team record. He was the youngest player to play a game for them. He was 18 years, eight months, and 13 days old. Even though he was a key young player for the Ducks, he was traded. On February 7, 1996, he moved to the Winnipeg Jets.

Moving Teams and All-Star Games

Oleg's time in Winnipeg was short. The Jets team moved to Phoenix, Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes. In 1997, Oleg was chosen to play in the 1997 National Hockey League All-Star Game. This showed he was one of the best players in the league. He was a strong player for the Coyotes.

In 1999, Oleg was traded back to the Mighty Ducks. In 2002, he played for Russia in the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Winning the Stanley Cup

In 2002, Oleg was traded to the New Jersey Devils. He and his teammate Jeff Friesen joined the Devils. The very next year, the Devils and the Ducks played against each other in the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals. Oleg and the Devils won the Stanley Cup that year!

After the 2003 season, Oleg went back to Russia. He played in the Russian Superleague for Avangard Omsk. While there, he helped his team win the league championship. He also played for Russia in the World Cup of Hockey.

In 2005, Oleg returned to the NHL. He signed with the Carolina Hurricanes. He won his second Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006. On September 29, 2006, Oleg was traded to the Los Angeles Kings.

Playing Back in Russia

Oleg played the 2007–08 season in Russia for Salavat Yulayev Ufa. He stayed with that team for five seasons. When he left the NHL, he was still under contract with the Los Angeles Kings. This was possible because there was no official agreement between the NHL and the Russian Hockey Federation at the time.

He was also a reserve player for Team Russia in the 2010 Winter Olympics. This meant he would play if another player got hurt.

In the 2011–12 season, he was traded to Metallurg Magnitogorsk. He played part of the next season there before he retired from hockey.

Personal Life

Oleg Tverdovsky lives in the United States with his second wife, Mia. They are raising five children together.

Awards and Achievements

International Medals

Medal record
Representing Russia
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
Bronze	2002 Salt Lake City
World Championships
Gold	2009 Switzerland
World Junior Championships
Bronze	1994 Ostrava