Valeri Kharlamov

Valeri Kharlamov
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2005
Kharlamov on a 2023 Russian stamp
Born	(1948-01-14)14 January 1948 Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Died	27 August 1981(1981-08-27) (aged 33) near Solnechnogorsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	168 lb (76 kg; 12 st 0 lb)
Position	Left Wing
Shot	Left
Played for	CSKA Moscow
National team	Soviet Union
Playing career	1967–1981
Medal record Olympic Games 1972 Sapporo Team 1976 Innsbruck Team 1980 Lake Placid Team World Championships 1969 Sweden Team 1970 Sweden Team 1971 Switzerland Team 1973 Soviet Union Team 1974 Finland Team 1975 West Germany Team 1978 Czechoslovakia Team 1979 Soviet Union Team 1972 Czechoslovakia Team 1976 Poland Team 1977 Austria Team

Valeri Borisovich Kharlamov (Russian: Вале́рий Бори́сович Харла́мов, IPA: [vɐˈlʲerʲɪj bɐˈrʲisəvʲɪtɕ xɐrˈlaməf]; 14 January 1948 – 27 August 1981) was a Russian ice hockey forward who played for CSKA Moscow in the Soviet League from 1967 until his death in 1981. Although small in stature, Kharlamov was a speedy, intelligent, skilled and dominant player, being named the Soviet Championship League most valuable player in 1972 and 1973. An offensive player who was considered very creative on the ice, he also led the league in scoring in 1972. He was also a gifted skater who was able to make plays at top speed. Kharlamov was considered one of the best players of his era, as well as one of the greatest players of all time.

In international play, Kharlamov represented the Soviet Union at 11 World Championships, winning 8 gold medals, 2 silvers and 1 bronze. He participated in three Winter Olympics, 1972, 1976 and 1980, finishing with two gold medals and one silver, and participated in the 1972 Summit Series against Team Canada. He spent most of his career playing on a line with Vladimir Petrov and Boris Mikhailov, and this trio is considered one of the best in the history of ice hockey.

Kharlamov was killed in a car accident in 1981. After his death, Kharlamov was elected to the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame, the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Russian Hockey Hall of Fame and was selected as one of the forwards on the IIHF Centennial All-Star Team. The Kharlamov Trophy is presented annually to the best Russian hockey player in the National Hockey League, as chosen by his peers. The Kharlamov Cup is presented to the champion of the Minor Hockey League playoffs, and the Kontinental Hockey League named one of their four divisions after him.