Viacheslav Fetisov facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Viacheslav Fetisov
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2001
Fetisov in February 2015
Born	(1958-04-20) 20 April 1958 (age 67) Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	216 lb (98 kg; 15 st 6 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	CSKA Moscow New Jersey Devils Spartak Moscow Detroit Red Wings
National team	Soviet Union and  Russia
NHL Draft	201st overall, 1978 Montreal Canadiens 145th overall, 1983 New Jersey Devils
Playing career	1974–1998, 2009
Medal record Men's ice hockey Representing Soviet Union Winter Olympics Gold 1984 Sarajevo Gold 1988 Calgary Silver 1980 Lake Placid World Championships Gold 1978 Czechoslovakia Gold 1981 Sweden Gold 1982 Finland Gold 1983 West Germany Gold 1986 Soviet Union Gold 1989 Sweden Gold 1990 Switzerland Silver 1987 Austria Bronze 1977 Austria Bronze 1985 Czechoslovakia Bronze 1991 Finland Canada Cup Gold 1981 Canada World Junior Championships Gold 1976 Finland Gold 1977 Czechoslovakia Gold 1978 Canada

Viacheslav Alexandrovich "Slava" Fetisov (born 20 April 1958) is a famous Russian former professional ice hockey player. He was a defenceman, which is a player who helps protect the team's goal. Fetisov also became a coach, a politician, and a sports official.

He played for HC CSKA Moscow for 13 seasons. Later, he joined the National Hockey League (NHL) in North America. There, he played for the New Jersey Devils and the Detroit Red Wings. With the Red Wings, he won two Stanley Cups in a row. He was also part of a special group of players called the "Russian Five".

After he stopped playing, Fetisov became an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils. He helped the team reach two Stanley Cup finals and win one. He also won two Olympic gold medals and seven World Championships during his playing career. Because he won the Stanley Cup, Olympic gold, and World Championships, he is a member of the special Triple Gold Club.

Fetisov played a big role in allowing Soviet players to join the NHL. Before him, it was very difficult for them to leave the Soviet Union. His actions helped many top Soviet and European players come to North America. He was also the long-time captain of the Soviet national ice hockey team. In 2002, he led the Russian Olympic team as a manager and coach, winning a bronze medal. Many people think he is one of the best defencemen ever. He was chosen for the International Ice Hockey Federation's (IIHF) IIHF Centennial All-Star Team. He was also added to the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2005.

After coaching, Fetisov started a career in politics and sports leadership. He became the Minister of Sport for Russia from 2002 to 2008. He is also a member of the Federation Council, which is part of Russia's government. He helped lead the bid for Sochi to host the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Playing Career Highlights

Playing for CSKA Moscow

Fetisov started playing for CSKA Moscow's junior team when he was sixteen. He joined the main team in the Soviet Championship League in the 1978–79 season. In his first year, he scored 29 points in 29 games. He was named the USSR Player of the Year in 1982 and again in 1986.

Joining the NHL

Fetisov wanted to play in the NHL in North America. At that time, it was very hard for Soviet players to leave their country. Fetisov faced a lot of challenges, but he helped eight Soviet players, including himself, join the NHL. This was possible because of a new policy called "glasnost" in the Soviet Union.

The Soviet hockey officials agreed to let players go to the NHL. However, they took almost all of the players' NHL salaries. Fetisov later said this was like treating players as slaves.

Success with the New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings

The Montreal Canadiens first drafted Fetisov in 1978, but he couldn't play in North America then. He was drafted again in 1983 by the New Jersey Devils. He started playing for the Devils in the 1989–90 season. He scored eight goals and 42 points, which were his best numbers in the NHL.

In 1995, he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. He quickly made an impact, scoring 14 points in 14 games. He helped the Red Wings reach the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals, but they lost to his old team, the Devils.

Fetisov then had a great season in 1995–96, matching his career high with 42 points. He was chosen for his first NHL All-Star Game in 1997. He then won two Stanley Cups in a row with Detroit in 1997 and 1998. After winning his second Stanley Cup, he decided to retire. He even brought the Stanley Cup to Moscow in 1997, which was the first time the trophy had been in Russia.

A Special One-Game Return

Almost eleven years after he retired, Fetisov played one more game at the age of 51. This happened on December 11, 2009, for CSKA Moscow. The team needed a player because a defenceman was injured. Fetisov, who was the club's president, stepped in to help. CSKA Moscow lost the game 3–2.

International Hockey Achievements

Fetisov on a 1979 card

Fetisov is one of the most successful players in international hockey history. As a junior player, he won two gold medals at the European Junior Championships. He was also named the Top Defenceman in 1975–76. He then helped the Soviet Union win three gold medals in a row at the World Junior Championships from 1976 to 1978. He was named Top Defenceman in 1977 and 1978.

With the Soviet national team, Fetisov won two gold medals at the Olympics (in 1984 and 1988) and one silver medal (in 1980). At the World Championships, he won seven gold medals (in 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, and 1990). He also won one silver medal (1987) and three bronze medals (1977, 1985, 1991). Fetisov also won the Canada Cup in 1981.

At the 2002 Olympics, he was the head coach for the Russian national team, and they won a bronze medal. Fetisov is one of only a few players to win the "Grand Slam of Ice Hockey." This means he won the Stanley Cup, World Ice Hockey Championships, Olympic Gold Medal, World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, and the Canada/World Cup Championship.

Coaching and Leadership Roles

Assistant Coach

After his playing career, Fetisov became an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils. He helped the team win the Stanley Cup in 2000 during his three years as a coach (1998–2001).

Sports Official and Politician

After coaching, Fetisov became the general manager for the Russian national team at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Russia won a bronze medal there.

In 2005, Fetisov became the first chairman of the Athletes Committee for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This agency works to keep sports fair and free from banned substances.

In 2009, he became the president of HC CSKA Moscow. He also attended the World Hockey Summit in 2010. There, he talked about improving the relationship between the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and the National Hockey League (NHL).

Fetisov also entered politics. From 2002 to 2004, he was the Chairman of the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Physical Culture and Sports. He later became the Head of the Federal Agency for Physical Culture and Sports. He is a member of the United Russia party and has served in the State Duma, which is part of Russia's parliament.

Honors and Awards

Fetisov's red uniform (#2) from the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto in 1999

Fetisov and John Kerry on 14 July 2021

Fetisov has received many honors in Russia, including the Order of Lenin and the Order of Merit for the Fatherland. An asteroid, 8806 Fetisov, was even named after him in 1981.

In North America, he was chosen for the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. The IIHF also recognized him as one of the best players ever by including him in the IIHF Centennial All-Star Team. He received the most votes from experts around the world for this team.

He also won the Stanley Cup twice (in 1997 and 1998). He was named a UNESCO Champion for Sport and was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2005.

Personal Life

Viacheslav Fetisov has a daughter named Anastasia. She appeared with him in a documentary film called "Of Miracles and Men."

In June 1985, Fetisov experienced a personal tragedy when his younger brother, Anatoly, who was also a promising hockey player for CSKA Moscow, passed away in a car accident.

Years later, in June 1997, after celebrating the Detroit Red Wings' Stanley Cup win, Fetisov was in a car accident. His teammate, Vladimir Konstantinov, was seriously injured. Fetisov himself had minor injuries and was able to play the next season.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International Play Statistics

Images for kids

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  Fetisov with Vladimir Putin in 2018

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  Fetisov during a congress of the United Russia party, 2021