Valeri Kharlamov

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox ice hockey player Valeri Borisovich Kharlamov (Template:Langx, Template:IPA; 14 January 1948 – 27 August 1981) was a Russian ice hockey forward who played for CSKA Moscow in the Soviet League from 1967 until his death in 1981. Kharlamov was a speedy, intelligent, skilled and dominant player, being named the Soviet Championship League most valuable player in 1972 and 1973. An offensive player who was considered very creative on the ice, he also led the league in scoring in 1972. He was also a gifted skater who was able to make plays at top speed. Kharlamov was considered one of the best players of his era, as well as one of the greatest players of all time.

In international play, Kharlamov represented the Soviet Union at 11 World Championships, winning 8 gold medals, 2 silvers and 1 bronze. He participated in three Winter Olympics, 1972, 1976 and 1980, finishing with two gold medals and one silver, and participated in the 1972 Summit Series against Team Canada. He spent most of his career playing on a line with Vladimir Petrov and Boris Mikhailov, and this trio is considered one of the best in the history of ice hockey.

Kharlamov was killed in a car accident in 1981. After his death, Kharlamov was elected to the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame, the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Russian Hockey Hall of Fame and was selected as one of the forwards on the IIHF Centennial All-Star Team. The Kharlamov Trophy is presented annually to the best Russian hockey player in the National Hockey League, as chosen by his peers. The Kharlamov Cup is presented to the champion of the Minor Hockey League playoffs, and the Kontinental Hockey League named one of their four divisions after him.

Early life

Kharlamov was born in Moscow to Boris and Begoñita Kharlamov. Boris was a mechanic at a factory, Kommunar, while Begoñita worked with Aeroflot.<ref name="Martin 132">Martin, p. 132.</ref> Begoñita, who was born Carmen Orive Abad, was Basque and originally from Bilbao, Spain, but moved to the Soviet Union in 1937 as a child refugee from the Spanish Civil War (see Niños de Rusia). Boris Kharlamov's parents were factory workers from Moscow.<ref name=filmrelease>Template:Cite web</ref> He was named after Valery Chkalov, a pioneering Soviet pilot. He also had a younger sister, Tatiana.Template:Citation needed In 1956, when he was eight years old, Kharlamov moved to Spain with his mother, though they both returned to the Soviet Union after several months.<ref name=filmrelease/> Due to his mother's heritage, Kharlamov would be nicknamed "The Spaniard" throughout his career.<ref name=sasha/>

At age five, Kharlamov first started to skate, fastening his father's blades onto his own shoes. He was trained by Boris, who had played hockey himself.<ref name="Martin 132"/> However, Kharlamov, who enjoyed playing football as well, was quite sickly as a youth; in 1961, he was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and doctors ordered him to cease any physical activity, and spent several months in hospital, though he ultimately recovered with no apparent cause nor lingering effects.<ref name="Martin 132"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Playing career

Soviet League

Kharlamov successfully tried-out for CSKA Moscow when he was 12, and joined their sports school.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He joined the senior team for the 1967–68 season, and made his debut with CSKA on 22 October 1967 against HC Sibir.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> However, Anatoly Tarasov, the coach of the team, felt Kharlamov was not good enough for the team, so after 15 matches with CSKA he sent Kharlamov to join Zvezda Chebarkul, who played in the third division. He would lead the team in scoring with 34 goals in 32 games.<ref>Martin, pp. 132–133.</ref>

The following season Kharlamov was brought back to CSKA full-time. In 42 games he scored 37 goals and had 12 assists and finished third in the league in scoring with 49 points; it was during a match in October 1968 that he was first put on a line with Vladimir Petrov and Boris Mikhailov;<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> the three of them would play together for the next years both with CSKA and internationally, forming one of the most famous lines in hockey history.<ref name="HHOF Bio">Template:Cite web</ref> In the off-season he and his linemates Petrov and Mikhailov were awarded the title of Merited Master of Sport in recognition of winning an international tournament (which would become the Izvestia Cup).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Kharlamov scored a further 33 goals in 1969–70, and had placed fifth overall in points with 43, as CSKA won the league championship once again. He led the league in scoring for the first time in 1970–71, with 40 goals, and finished second overall in scoring with 52, and CSKA repeated as champions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Although Kharlamov never played in North America, he was drafted by the Calgary Broncos of the World Hockey Association, along with Soviet teammates Petrov and Alexander Maltsev in early 1972.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

International play

World Championships

Kharlamov in 1979

Kharlamov's career in Soviet hockey was well established by the time he came to greater attention through his play in international hockey. His first tournament for the Soviet Union was the 1969 World Championship, where he helped the team capture the gold medal.<ref name=eliteprospects>Template:Cite web</ref> Kharlamov was a fixture on the Soviet national team roster for the next decade. He played in eleven World Championships in total, capturing 8 gold medals, 2 silvers and 1 bronze.<ref name=iihfrecordbook>Podnieks, p. 467.</ref> He was named to the tournament All-Star team four times (1971, 1972, 1973 and 1976).<ref name=iihfrecordbook/> He played a total of 105 games in the World Championships, scoring 74 goals and adding 82 assists (156 points).<ref name=iihfrecordbook/>

Summit Series

As World Championships were commonly played in Europe, and National Hockey League (NHL) players were not allowed to participate in the Olympics either, Kharlamov and his teammates were still a somewhat unknown entity when the 1972 Summit Series was played. The eight game series, with four games played in Canada, and four in the Soviet Union was one of the first opportunities for the two countries to put their best hockey players against each other. Most pundits thought Canada would win convincingly.<ref>MacSkimming, p. 57.</ref>

In the first game of the series, the Soviet Union stunned Canada with a 7–3 victory. Kharlamov scored two goals on Ken Dryden during the second period, and was named the game's Most Valuable Player.<ref name=filmrelease/><ref name=sasha/> Fresh observers of Kharlamov's play were universally impressed. Summit Series defenceman Serge Savard ranked him as one of the top five players of all time.<ref name=sasha /> Team Canada head coach Harry Sinden would later say of Kharlamov, "He had the skill and the ability of any player in the NHL at the time."<ref name=espnprofile/>

In the sixth game of the series, Bobby Clarke slashed Kharlamov, fracturing a bone in his ankle. He would miss the seventh game of the series, and returned to the lineup for the final game, but at much reduced effectiveness. At the time, many felt the slash was intentional. Assistant coach John Ferguson would later say "I called (Bobby) Clarke over to the bench, looked over at Kharlamov and said, 'I think he needs a tap on the ankle'."<ref name=slash>Template:Cite web</ref> Clarke would similarly admit to the act, later saying "If I hadn't learned to lay on a two-hander once in a while, I'd never have left Flin Flon."<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20020406030445/http://www.1972summitseries.com/clarke.html</ref> As for Kharlamov himself, he had little doubt that an attempt had been made to limit his effectiveness, "I'm convinced that Bobby Clarke was given the job of taking me out of the game."<ref name=slash/> Kharlamov's injury, and his diminished play in the aftermath have been regarded as a turning point for the series in Canada's favour, who won the series in the eighth and final game.<ref name=slash/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Two years later Kharlamov was in the Soviet lineup again during the 1974 Summit Series, playing against the best Canadian players from the World Hockey Association. The Soviets were victorious in this series, with four wins, one loss and three ties. Kharlamov scored two goals and added six assists in the series.<ref name=eliteprospects/>

Olympics

Kharlamov helped the Soviet national ice hockey team to win gold medals at the 1972 and 1976 Winter Olympics. In five games during the 1972 tournament, Kharlamov scored nine goals and added seven assists.<ref name=eliteprospects /> He won his second gold medal with the Soviet Union in 1976, contributing three goals and six assists. Kharlamov was also part of the silver medal-winning Soviet team at the 1980 Winter Olympics, which was his last international tournament. Overall, Kharlamov won two gold medals and one silver at the Olympics, scoring 36 points in 22 career games.<ref name=iihfrecordbook/>

Kharlamov never played in a Canada Cup tournament. He missed the 1976 Canada Cup due to the injuries he sustained in his first major car accident, and was left off the roster for the 1981 Canada Cup just prior to his fatal car accident, as Tikhonov felt he was too old and not in good enough shape for the team.<ref>Martin, p. 129.</ref> According to his mother-in-law, Kharlamov had been planning to announce his retirement after playing in the 1981 tournament.<ref name=sasha/>

Death

Roadside memorial to Valeri Kharlamov, near the site of his fatal accident.

Kharlamov was still active with CSKA when he was killed in a car crash on 27 August 1981.<ref name=espnprofile>Template:Cite web</ref> Prior to the crash, Kharlamov had been informed that he would not be a member of the Soviet team playing in the 1981 Canada Cup.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Coach Viktor Tikhonov said that Kharlamov was left off the team over concerns about his conditioning.<ref name=sasha /> Irina, Kharlamov's wife, was driving back to Moscow from the family's cottage when she lost control and crossed into opposing traffic, hitting a truck head-on.<ref name=filmrelease/> Irina did not have a driver's license at the time of the crash. When the bodies were recovered, Kharlamov was reaching over from his seat, holding onto the steering wheel.<ref name=sasha /> Irina's cousin was also killed.<ref name=filmrelease/> Fans lined the streets during his funeral procession in Moscow, and they filed past his casket which rested at centre ice of CSKA's arena.<ref name=sasha>Template:Cite book</ref> Near the scene of the crash, a memorial stone in the shape of a hockey puck is inscribed, "The star of Russian hockey fell here."<ref name=espnprofile/>

Legacy

After his death, Kharlamov's teammates with CSKA decided that no one at any level of the organization would wear Kharlamov's #17 sweater, until his son Alexander was old enough to wear it.<ref name=sasha/> Alexander wore #17 until he was a teenager, but later switched to #22, feeling that the expectations that went along with his father's sweater number were too great.<ref name=sasha /> When he found himself playing for Tikhonov with the CSKA in 1992, the decision was taken away from him, and he was issued the #17 sweater. After initially being reluctant, Alexander said "Now I am used to it. I felt an additional burden on my shoulders. But now I don't feel anything like that."<ref name=sasha/> The #17 is not worn by any member of the Russian national team at senior international competitions.<ref name=17jersey>Template:Cite web</ref> Ilya Kovalchuk usually wears #17 in honor of Kharlamov in club competitions, his father's favorite player.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In his memory, Sovetsky Sport newspaper established the Kharlamov Trophy in 2002; it is awarded annually to the best Russian player in the National Hockey League, as selected by the Russian players in the league.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The annual winner of the playoffs in Russia's Junior Hockey League is awarded the Kharlamov Cup. The trophy features a figure modeled after Kharlamov at the top.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> One of the divisions in the Eastern Conference of the Kontinental Hockey League is named in his honor as well.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2013, director Nikolay Lebedev released the biopic Legend No. 17, with Danila Kozlovsky portraying Kharlamov for most of the film.<ref name=17jersey/> "Legend No 17" was nominated for 11 Golden Eagle Awards in 2013, and captured six of them, including Best Screenplay.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The movie has been described as a personal favorite of Vladimir Putin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Kharlamov was posthumously inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Hall of Fame in 1998.<ref name=eliteprospects/> The Milestone Award is given by the IIHF Hall of Fame to teams that have made significant contributions to international hockey. In 2012, Kharlamov's 1972 Summit Series Soviet Union team was given this honor.<ref>Podnieks, p. 8.</ref> To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the IIHF in 2008, a panel of experts named Kharlamov to the Centennial All-Star Team, along with three other Soviet stars, Vladislav Tretiak, Viacheslav Fetisov and Sergei Makarov.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kharlamov was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005. His induction was met with praise from one of the players who idolized him, Ilya Kovalchuk.<ref name=espnprofile/> Kharlamov was the second Soviet trained player, after Tretiak, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Upon hearing the news of his father's induction, Alexander Kharlamov said "I want to say thank you for remembering my father."<ref name="HHOF Bio"/> In 2014, Kharlamov was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Russian Hockey Hall of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Playing style

Small in stature (he was measured as Template:Height and Template:Convert during the Summit Series), Kharlamov was a gifted offensive player.<ref>MacSkimming, p. 51.</ref> During his prime, he was one of the dominant players in Soviet hockey, and he maintained this reputation during international tournaments. Kharlamov loved the creative opportunities his sport provided saying "I like to score beautiful goals."<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> Some compared Kharlamov's play to Wayne Gretzky, in the sense that their overall play was greater than their individual skills, such as skating or shooting would indicate.<ref name=espnprofile/> He was very popular with his fans and teammates.<ref name=espnprofile />

Personal life

Kharlamov and Irina had two children, a son, Alexander, commonly known as "Sasha" and a daughter, Begonita. Valeri married Irina in 1975, after Alexander was born. At that time Kharlamov was unaware he had a son, until he received a phone call from Irina telling him he was the baby's father.<ref name=sasha /> After their parents' death, the children went to live with their maternal grandmother in Moscow.<ref name=sasha /><ref name=espnprofile /> Alexander was only five years old when his father died, and does not remember him well, although he has seen recordings of his games.<ref name=espnprofile/> Alexander would also become an ice hockey player, and was selected fifteenth overall by the Washington Capitals in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, though he never played in the NHL, playing in the North American minor leagues where he made a significant contribution to the Hampton Roads Admirals winning the Kelly Cup, and back in Russia before retiring in 2004. Alexander's son is named Valeri, after his grandfather, although his sport of choice is football, rather than hockey.<ref name=espnprofile/> After his death, Kharlamov was buried in the Kuntsevo Cemetery in the Kuntsevo District of Moscow.<ref>Martin, p. 130.</ref>

Career statistics

Regular season

Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1967–68	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		15	2	3	5	6
1968–69	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		42	37	12	49	24
1969–70	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		33	33	10	43	16
1970–71	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		34	40	12	52	18
1971–72	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		31	24	16	40	22
1972–73	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		27	19	13	32	22
1973–74	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		26	20	10	30	28
1974–75	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		31	15	24	39	35
1975–76	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		34	18	18	36	6
1976–77	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		21	18	8	26	16
1977–78	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		29	18	24	42	35
1978–79	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		41	22	26	48	36
1979–80	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		41	16	22	38	40
1980–81	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		30	9	16	25	14
Soviet totals				438	293	214	507	318

International

Year	Team	Comp		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1969	Soviet Union	WC		10	6	7	13	4
1970	Soviet Union	WC		9	7	3	10	4
1971	Soviet Union	WC		10	5	12	17	2
1972	Soviet Union	SS		7	3	4	7	16
1972	Soviet Union	OG		5	9	7	16	2
1972	Soviet Union	WC		9	8	6	14	10
1973	Soviet Union	WC		10	9	14	23	31
1974	Soviet Union	SS		8	2	6	8	4
1974	Soviet Union	WC		10	5	5	10	8
1975	Soviet Union	WC		9	10	6	16	4
1976	Soviet Union	OG		6	3	6	9	6
1976	Soviet Union	WC		10	4	10	14	4
1977	Soviet Union	WC		10	9	7	16	4
1978	Soviet Union	WC		10	4	5	9	4
1979	Soviet Union	WC		8	7	7	14	4
1980	Soviet Union	OG		7	3	8	11	2
World Championship totals				105	74	82	156	79
Olympic totals				18	15	21	36	10

Awards and honours

Soviet Union and Russia

Award	Year
Merited Master of Sport	1969
Soviet League Player of the Year	1971–72, 1972–73
Russian Hockey Hall of Fame	2014

International

Award	Year
World Ice Hockey Championships All-Star Team	1971, 1972, 1973, 1976
IIHF Hall of Fame	1998<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
IIHF Centennial All-Star Team	2008
Hockey Hall of Fame	2005

Cited sources

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External links

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