Viktor Zinger

Viktor Zinger started to play hockey with CSKA Moskva in 1958, but as he did not rise to the top goaltender position there, he joined SKA Kuybyshev in 1961 and played there the next four seasons. In 1964 he joined Spartak Moskva and played there until the end of his playing career in 1977. With Spartak Moskva Zinger won three Soviet titles (1967, 1969, 1976) and was twice a runner-up in the European Champions Cup (1970, 1977). Internationally Zinger was the back-up goaltender during his entire career with the Soviet national team (1965-71) behind Viktor Konovalenko, except at the 1969 World Championships, when Konovalenko was injured. With the Soviet team Zinger won an Olympic gold in 1968 and was World and European Champion five times (1965-69). After his playing career, Zinger worked as a long-time coach with Spartak Moskva. At first he was the coach of senior team, specializing in coaching goaltenders, then worked as a children’s coach with Spartak Moskva sports school and was the head coach of Spartak Moskva junior team.