Helmūts Balderis

Helmūts Balderis was the first great Latvian ice hockey player and is still considered the greatest Latvian player ever. Balderis started to play with Dinamo Riga in 1969, playing there until 1977. He then played three seasons with CSKA Moskva, winning three Soviet and European Cup titles (1978-80), returning to Dinamo Riga in 1980-85. In 1977 Balderis was selected as MVP of the Soviet Championships, was the leading scorer at the 1977 and 1983 Soviet Championships, and the leading goal scorer in 1976, 1977 and 1985. In 1985 Balderis retired from sports and worked four seasons as a hockey coach in Japan, but made a comeback in 1989, when Soviet players were allowed to play in NHL. He then played one season with the Minnesota North Stars, before finishing his playing career again by playing in various Latvian clubs from 1990-96, leading the Latvian League in scoring in 1993. Internationally besides his Olympic silver medal, Balderis was World champion three times (1978, 1979, 1983) and European champion twice (1979, 1983). He also won silver (1976) and bronze (1977) at the World Championships and silvers (1976, 1978) and bronze (1977) at the European Championships. Balderis was named the best forward at the 1977 World Championships and was the leading goal scorer at the 1978 World Championships. In 1979 Balderis played on the winning Soviet Union team in the Challenge Cup between the Soviet Union and NHL All-Stars and in won bronze at the 1976 Canada Cup. Balteris also played for the Latvian national team in 1992-93, captaining the team and scoring two goals at the 1993 World Championships elimination tournament. Balderis coached the Latvian national team at the 1993-94 World Championships. He later was manager of the Latvian national team, was a director of Rīgas Sporta pils (the ice hockey hall in Riga) and was a member of the Riga city council. Balderis is currently a member of the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation and also works with the Latvian pharmaceutical company АО Olainfarm. He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1998.