Viacheslav Fetisov

Viacheslav Alexandrovich "Slava" Fetisov MP (; born 20 April 1958) is a Russian former professional ice hockey defenceman, coach, politician and sports official. He played for HC CSKA Moscow for 13 seasons before joining the National Hockey League (NHL), where he played with the New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings. With the Wings, he won back-to-back Stanley Cups and was part of the team's Russian Five unit. After retiring from his playing career, he became the assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils. Having a very successful four years, he helped get the team to two Stanley Cup finals and one Stanley Cup victory. In addition to that, he won two Olympic gold medals and seven world championships. His Stanley Cup wins, Olympic gold medals, and World Championship wins make him a member of the sport's prestigious Triple Gold Club.

Fetisov was instrumental in breaking the barrier that had prevented Soviet players from leaving the Soviet Union to join the NHL. His actions not only resulted in a number of top Soviet players joining the NHL, but encouraged many of the best players from all over Europe to go to North America. He is a member of the upper house of the Federal Assembly of Russia, the Federation Council representing Primorsky Krai, the founder and chairman of the KHL's board of directors and chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Athletes Committee. Fetisov was president of Russian ice hockey club HC CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was also the key member of the bidding committee that presented the Sochi 2014 proposal to the IOC in Guatemala in 2007, when a city was being chosen to host the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Fetisov was Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the VII convocation, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs since 5 October 2016. Fetisov is a member of the Supreme Council of the United Russia party.

Playing career

CSKA Moscow (1976–89) Fetisov debuted for CSKA Moscow's junior team at sixteen years old. He joined the senior team in the Soviet Championship League in 1978–79 and recorded 29 points in 29 games as a rookie. In his fourth season, Fetisov reeled off 41 points in 46 games to be named the 1982 USSR Player of the Year.

Fetisov had been drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1978 NHL entry draft eleven years prior. However, unable to play in North America at the time, he was re-entered into the 1983 NHL entry draft, where he was selected by the New Jersey Devils. Fetisov debuted with the Devils in 1989–90 and recorded eight goals and 42 points, both NHL career-highs for Fetisov.

He played in New Jersey until 1994–95, when he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in April 1995. CSKA Moscow lost the game 3–2 to SKA St. Petersburg.

International play

On the international stage, Fetisov is one of the most decorated players ever. As a junior, Fetisov competed for the Soviet Union at the European Junior Championships, where he won Top Defenceman honors during the 1975–76 season, en route to two consecutive gold medals at the tournament.

In 2009, he became president of HC CSKA Moscow. Following the injuries of CSKA's several key defenders, Fetisov, aged 51 at the time, came out of retirement to play against SKA St Petersburg in a one-off return.

Fetisov attended the World Hockey Summit in 2010, and discussed wanting to improve KHL's relationship with the National Hockey League (NHL) with respect to transfer agreements and player contracts. The Russian league sought greater financial compensation when its players departed for the NHL, instead of negotiating a flat rate for an unlimited number of transfers.

Honors

In his home country, Fetisov has been awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1984, the Order of Lenin in 1988, the Order Of Service To The Fatherland 4th class in 2000 and 3rd class 2005, the Order Of Honour in 1998, the Order of Friendship in 2007, and two Orders of the Badge of Honor. On October 22, 1981, Russian astronomer Nikolai Chernykh discovered a main-belt asteroid from the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory. The asteroid was named the 8806 Fetisov after Fetisov.

In North America, Fetisov was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame on 12 November 2001 along with Mike Gartner, Dale Hawerchuk and Jari Kurri.

Personal life He has a daughter, Anastasia, who appeared with him in the 30 for 30 film "Of Miracles and Men."

In June 1985, Fetisov was involved in a car accident that killed his younger brother Anatoly, who was 18 years old at the time and a prospect within the HC CSKA Moscow system.

Sanctions Fetisov was sanctioned by the UK government in 2022 amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Political career

From April 2002 to March 2004, Fetisov was Chairman of the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Physical Culture and Sports (Goskomsport).

In September 2003, Fetisov became a member of the Supreme Council of the United Russia party. Since 2003, Fetisov has also actively worked and acted as a member of the Supreme Council of United Russia. Since 2003, he is Acting State Councilor of the Russian Federation, 1st class.

From March to November 2004, Fetisov was Head of the Federal Agency for Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism. From November 2004 to October 2008, he was Head of the Federal Agency for Physical Culture and Sports (Rossport). In November 2007, Fetisov was officially awarded the party card of United Russia.

In September 2008, Vedomosti reported that the Presidium of the General Council of United Russia recommended Fetisov's candidacy for election as a representative of the legislative assembly of Primorsky Krai in the Federation Council (this seat became vacant after Igor Pushkaryov, who represented the regional legislature, was elected mayor of Vladivostok in May of the same year). On the same day, Fetisov consented to become a seaside senator. On 17 October 2008, he was elected a member of the Federation Council from Primorsky Krai. Since 27 October 2008, he has been Chairman of the Federation Council Commission on Physical Culture, Sports, and the Development of the Olympic Movement. Fetisov is a member of the Federation Council Committee on Local Self-Government and the Federation Council Commission on Youth Affairs and Tourism.

On 4 December 2011, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Primorsky Krai; however, being again elected as a representative of the regional parliament in the Federation Council, he refused the deputy mandate. Since 16 December 2011, he has been the First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy.

Since 5 October 2016, Fetisov has been Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the VII convocation and the First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth Affairs. Since 16 December 2017, deputy chairman of the board of trustees of the All-Russian Society for the Conservation of Nature. On 12 February 2021, by unanimous decision of all participants of the XVIII Congress of the VOOP, Fetisov was elected Chairman of the Central Council of the All-Russian Society for the Conservation of Nature.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1974–75 CSKA Moscow Soviet 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1975–76 CSKA Moscow Soviet Jr — — — — — — — — — — 1976–77 CSKA Moscow Soviet 28 3 4 7 14 — — — — — 1977–78 CSKA Moscow Soviet 35 9 18 27 46 — — — — — 1978–79 CSKA Moscow Soviet 29 10 19 29 40 — — — — — 1979–80 CSKA Moscow Soviet 37 10 14 24 46 — — — — — 1980–81 CSKA Moscow Soviet 47 13 16 29 44 — — — — — 1981–82 CSKA Moscow Soviet 46 15 26 41 20 — — — — — 1982–83 CSKA Moscow Soviet 43 6 17 23 46 — — — — — 1983–84 CSKA Moscow Soviet 44 19 30 49 38 — — — — — 1984–85 CSKA Moscow Soviet 20 13 12 25 6 — — — — — 1985–86 CSKA Moscow Soviet 40 15 19 34 12 — — — — — 1986–87 CSKA Moscow Soviet 39 13 20 33 18 — — — — — 1987–88 CSKA Moscow Soviet 46 18 17 35 26 — — — — — 1988–89 CSKA Moscow Soviet 23 9 8 17 18 — — — — — 1989–90 New Jersey Devils NHL 72 8 34 42 52 6 0 2 2 10 1990–91 New Jersey Devils NHL 67 3 16 19 62 7 0 0 0 15 1990–91 Utica Devils AHL 1 1 1 2 0 — — — — — 1991–92 New Jersey Devils NHL 70 3 23 26 108 6 0 3 3 8 1992–93 New Jersey Devils NHL 76 4 23 27 158 5 0 2 2 4 1993–94 New Jersey Devils NHL 52 1 14 15 30 14 1 0 1 8 1994–95 CSKA Moscow IHL 1 0 1 1 4 — — — — — 1994–95 Spartak Moscow IHL 1 0 1 1 4 — — — — — 1994–95 New Jersey Devils NHL 4 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 1994–95 Detroit Red Wings NHL 14 3 11 14 2 18 0 8 8 14 1995–96 Detroit Red Wings NHL 69 7 35 42 96 19 1 4 5 34 1996–97 Detroit Red Wings NHL 64 5 23 28 76 20 0 4 4 42 1997–98 Detroit Red Wings NHL 58 2 12 14 72 21 0 3 3 10 2009–10 CSKA Moscow KHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — Soviet totals 478 153 221 374 374 — — — — — NHL totals 546 36 192 228 656 116 2 26 28 145

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1975 Soviet Union EJC 5 1 0 1 0 1976 Soviet Union EJC 4 2 0 2 0 1976 Soviet Union WJC 4 0 0 0 0 1977 Soviet Union WJC 7 3 2 5 4 1977 Soviet Union WC 5 3 3 6 2 1978 Soviet Union WJC 7 3 5 8 6 1978 Soviet Union WC 10 4 6 10 11 1980 Soviet Union OLY 7 5 4 9 10 1981 Soviet Union WC 8 1 4 5 6 1981 Soviet Union CC 7 1 7 8 10 1982 Soviet Union WC 10 4 3 7 6 1983 Soviet Union WC 10 3 7 10 8 1984 Soviet Union OLY 7 3 8 11 8 1985 Soviet Union WC 10 6 7 13 15 1986 Soviet Union WC 10 6 9 15 10 1987 Soviet Union WC 10 2 8 10 2 1987 Soviet Union CC 9 2 5 7 9 1988 Soviet Union OLY 8 4 9 13 6 1989 Soviet Union WC 10 2 4 6 17 1990 Soviet Union WC 8 2 8 10 8 1991 Soviet Union WC 10 3 1 4 4 1996 Russia WCH 4 0 2 2 12 Junior totals 27 9 7 16 21 Senior totals 143 51 95 146 144

Honours and awards

Order of Merit for the Fatherland; 2nd class (2018) 3rd class (4 November 2005) – for outstanding contribution to the development of physical culture and sport, the successful performance of the Russian national team at the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens in 2004 4th class (25 August 2000) – for his great personal contribution to the development of Russian hockey Order of Alexander Nevsky Order of Honour (23 August 1998) – for outstanding contribution to the development of national sport Order of Friendship (6 August 2007) – for active participation in efforts to ensure the victory of the application of Sochi to host the XXII Winter Olympics and XI Paralympics in 2014 Order of Lenin (1988) – for high athletic achievement at the XV Winter Olympic Games in Calgary in 1988 Order of the Red Banner of Labour (1984) – for high athletic achievement at the XIV Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo in 1984 Order of the Badge of Honour, twice (1978, 1981) Honoured Worker of Physical Culture, Russia (16 April 2008) – for services in the development of physical culture and sports Honored Master of Sports (1978) Badge "For Services to the Moscow region" Stanley Cup (1997, 1998) UNESCO Champion for Sport Inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2005 "Russian Diamond" (2007) – for his services and achievements in sport

Movies Fetisov was the main focus of the 2014 documentary movie Red Army, among other influential Soviet players.