Andrei Starovoytov

Andrei Vasilyevich Starovoytov (; 16 December 1915 – 22 March 1997) was a Russian ice hockey administrator, referee and player. He won three Soviet ice hockey championships as a player, and was later an ice hockey referee at eight World Championships. He was the general secretary of the Soviet Union Ice Hockey Federation for 17 years, and negotiated Soviet participation in the Summit Series. He was posthumously inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.

Early life and playing career Andrei Vasilyevich Starovoytov was born in Smolensk, on 16 December 1915. He started playing ice hockey and bandy as a youth during the 1930s. He was a Smolensk regional champion in speed skating, before he moved to Moscow at age 21 to enter the football and hockey department of the Higher School of Coaches. He did not pursue coaching, but continued his studies at the State Central Institute of Physical Education. where he established himself as a tough player and strong skater, who played on the second line. He was a member of championship teams in 1948, 1949 and 1950, and scored 10 goals in 50 games at the Soviet championships. Starovoytov agreed to the eight-game series feeling that his Soviet players would be able to defeat Canadian professionals from the National Hockey League. His confidence was evident from an interview with journalist Red Fisher, where Starovoytov believed his country could win all eight games.

Canada prevailed with four wins and a draw in eight games, but he was not deterred in having another competition. During the 1974 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Starovoytov approached Canadian leaders Jack Devine and Gordon Juckes, regarding having another series. The 1974 Summit Series was agreed to be a six-games series versus professionals from the World Hockey Association, but was later extended to eight games. The Soviets won the rematch with four victories and three draws in eight games.

Later life and honors In 1986, Starovoytov was made an honorary life member of the IIHF, and received the Olympic Order in 1986 for contributions to ice hockey. He died in Moscow on 23 March 1997,

Starovoytov was posthumously inducted into the builder category of the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1997. The Kontinental Hockey League established the Andrei Starovoytov Award in 1997, also known as the "Golden Whistle" to recognize its referee of the year. In 2004, he was inducted into the Russian Hockey Hall of Fame.