Harijs Mellups

Harijs Mellups (1927, Sarkandaugava - 5 January 1950, Sverdlovsk) was a Latvian footballer, boxer, basketball player, and ice hockey player. He died in the 1950 Sverdlovsk plane crash at age 23. Mellups scored 20 goals for Dinamo in both 1946 and 1948 and 16 in 1947, and was part of the 1945 championship team. He reportedly only allowed three goals during the 1946-1947 season. After disagreements with the owners of Dinamo, he joined VVS Moscow, the Soviet Air Force's ice hockey team along with teammate Roberts Šūlmanis. He also played football in Moscow at the highest level.

Mellups, Šūlmanis, and nine other VVS Moscow players died in a plane crash on 5 January 1950. Vsevolod Bobrov later recognized Mellups as among the most technically skilled goalkeepers in the USSR.