Valery Kharlamov

Valery Kharlamov gained international fame in 1972 when the Soviet Union played the NHL All-Stars in a series of games. Kharlamov had an excellent series, but his fame was cemented when he was anointed by the redoubtable Bobby Hull, who said that Kharlamov was “the best winger in the world.” Kharlamov began playing hockey with CSKA Moskva and played there until his untimely death in 1981. Kharlamov won eleven Soviet titles (1968, 1970-73, 1977-81) and eleven European Champions Cup titles (1969-74, 1976, 1978-81) with them. He was the leading goal scorer at the Soviet Championships in 1971 with 39 goals and was selected as a member of the best line of the Soviet Championships five times – 1971, 1972, 1975 and 1978, and 1980.

Kharlamov played 292 games with the Soviet national team and scored 193 goals. In addition to his three Olympic medals, Kharlamov also won eight World Championships (1969-71, 1973-75, 1978-79) and six European Championship (1969, 1970, 1973-75, 1979). He also won silvers (1972, 1976) and bronze (1977) at the World Championships and silvers (1971, 1972, 1976, 1978) and bronze (1977) at the European Championships. At the 1976 World Championships Kharlamov was selected as the best forward of the tournament. Kharlamov played seven games and scored three goals at the 1972 Summit Series and eight games and two goals at the 1974 Summit Series and also won the 1979 Challenge Cup between Soviet Union and NHL all-stars.

On 21 August 1981, at about 7 AM, while returning home from their summer cottage, Valery’s wife Irina lost control over their car on a slippery road and rammed a truck that was driving in the opposite direction. All three passengers in the car, including Valery Kharlamov, died at the scene. Kharlamov has been honored by a trophy in his name, the Kharlamov Trophy, given each year to the best Russian NHL player. Kharlamov was inducted to the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005.