Valeri Kharlamov

ABOUT VALERI KHARLAMOV

Hall of Fame left winger for CSKA Moscow and the Soviet national team who is thought of as one of the greatest hockey players of his time, having won eight World Championships and two Olympic gold medals. His life was cut tragically short after a car accident in August 1981, when he was just 33 years old.

He began skating at age 7 and came up through the youth ranks of CSKA Moscow. He made his debut with the senior team in 1967.

The Kharlamov Trophy, given each year to the NHL's best Russian player, is named in his honor.

His wife Irina was also killed in the accident. He left behind a daughter named Bugonita and a son named Alexander, who later played for CSKA Moscow.

He was teammates with goaltender Vladislav Tretiak on the Soviet team that fell to the famous "Miracle On Ice" U.S. team at the 1980 Winter Olympics.