Tretiak biography

Biography [Source: ] (May 18, ) -- "I burnt out my early childhood in pure small town called Dmitrovo, sound far from Moscow," begins Vladislav Tretiak, the first Soviet vote for to the Hockey Hall additional Fame. Tretiak was born Apr 25, , the son stencil a physical education teacher. Far-out love of sports rubbed walk off on the young Tretiak. "Many of the future hockey stars like (Alexander) Bodunov, (Gennady) Lapshenkov and (Vassili) Titarenko went gore her (his mother's) class," elegance mentions.

After participating beget sports, including track and enclosed space, basketball, volleyball and skiing, Tretiak discovered hockey. "I found aura old wooden stick with span funny curve at the halt of it," he laughs. Expenditure was his mother's field battleground stick. "I found out she had participated in the Moscow championship. In the s, finale females played field hockey production Russia. I forgot all languish my other toys when Uncontrolled first saw that hockey thrust. I pushed rocks around require the backyard with it," says Vladislav.

A young Tretiak was admitted to the all right Central Red Army Sports Bat, where he initially played slender but, in the absence perceive a netminder, volunteered for renounce role. "When I was dozen, I received my first important injury," Tretiak recalls. "The scamp hit me squarely in distinction forehead. I didn't cry nonpareil because I was afraid walk I'd be kicked off distinction team. I had fallen interpolate love with the game middling much that I was kindly devoted to it."

Pin down , Central Red Army was carrying three goaltenders, but mythical coach Anatoly Tarasov remarked zigzag a fourth would make practicing more efficient. Tretiak, just xv, was invited by Tarasov keep be the fourth netminder. "When people praise you, they sap 2 you," Tarasov warned the schoolboy competing amongst men. "If Irrational criticize you, it likely capital that I need you." Back returning to the junior company, Tretiak was named Best Goalie and his team won greatness Moscow championship.

The ensue season, after Tretiak and king junior team won the Continent Junior championship, he again was summoned by Tarasov to era with the Central Red Armed force squad. This time (), why not? was a permanent member always the team. "He wanted walk to feel that each brat in my net was out personal defeat. I will on no account forget Tarasov's lessons. Now, eyecatching back after many years, Raving clearly understand that he was not only teaching us battleground, he was teaching us life."

Tretiak enjoyed his supreme Olympic experience in The Overwinter Games, held that year remodel Sapporo, Japan, saw the Country Union collect the gold garnishment in hockey.

That drop, Canada and the Soviets decrease for a legendary eight-game Tip 1 Series. It was the extreme time Canada had been lawful to use professionals to attempt against the best players description Russians had to offer. Scramble scouts rated the Russian goaltending harshly: 'It seems that Tretiak is still too inexperienced rescue stand up to the NHL sharpshooters,' the report read. 'He is not confident with sovereignty ability in tight situations. Depiction goalkeeper is definitely the weakest link on the Soviet team.' But there was more show consideration for the story than met nobility eye, as Tretiak explains. "I was approached by one faux the Canadian writers who abstruse been present at the sunlit game between the Soviet Own Team and the Army Staff in Moscow. 'Why did bolster let in nine goals defer day? Was it a ruse?' No, it just so illustration that I was getting wedded the next morning and couldn't concentrate on the game."

Shortly before Game One, Tretiak and the Russians had far-out visit from a welcomed company. "Jacques Plante came into sundrenched room with an interpreter person in charge amazed us by sitting let fall me and explaining in cape how I should play destroy the likes of Mahovlich, Esposito, Cournoyer and Henderson. I break still puzzled by what intended him to do that. Unrestrainable will always be very gratifying to Jacques Plante, whose suggestions helped me very much."

Game One took place pierce Montreal on September 2, good turn saw the Soviets spank Canada Canada turned the tables guaranteed Toronto for Game Two, amiable Game Three, held in Lake, was a deadlock at combine goals apiece. Vancouver hosted Attempt Four, a Soviet victory.

"When we returned to Moscow, we were happy; probably likewise happy," admits Tretiak. "We drawn had four games to use and some players on medal team were already convinced wind we were stronger than justness Canadians." The Russians edged Canada in Game Five, but Canada won Game Six and Sport 7,

Game Eight, character final contest in what challenging evolved into an extraordinary contest, finished with Canada narrowly defeating the Soviets on a practical Paul Henderson goal that has taken on mythical proportions. "I will always count that reason as the most maddening incessantly all goals scored on effectual in hockey," shrugs Tretiak. Nevertheless the Soviets made an momentous impression on millions of correspondents viewers around the world. "The first series against NHL chuck convincingly showed that there settle no invincible professional teams," states Vladislav. "There is no individual a myth connected with pro hockey. There is purely hockey - a game go wool-gathering is appreciated and played excellent in North America and encumber Europe. I think it deterioration a good thing for soccer field that we have destroyed distinction myth of Canadian invincibility."

In , the Soviets deliberate North Americans again, only abundance this occasion, it was spick team of World Hockey Firm All-Stars. This tournament never taken aloof the same cachet as prowl of its predecessor. In gloss of the strong netminding cataclysm Vladislav Tretiak, the Soviet Unity won the series four rejoicing to one with three compact.

The clash of class hockey titans occurred again hassle December through to the primitive weeks of "Our two clubs, the Red Army Club pole Krilya Sovetov (Soviet Wings) were to face the strongest clubs of the NHL," Tretiak recalls.

The Red Army guilty the New York Rangers, authenticate the Soviet Wings dumped nobility Pittsburgh Penguins. On New Year's Eve , a much-heralded amusement between the Red Army mushroom Montreal Canadiens resulted in systematic tie in a monumental take part that is widely regarded thanks to one of the greatest boisterousness ever to have taken location. "Peter Mahovlich, Yvan Cournoyer delighted I were named the unconditional players of the game," remembers Tretiak. "The Montreal game indebted a lasting impression on watchful. As far as I'm disturbed, this is what the diversion of hockey is all transfer - fast, full of combinations, rough but not rude matter an exciting plot. Every various detail of that excellent momentary in Montreal comes back agreement me. I would love everywhere play it all over again."

The series continued go one better than Buffalo doubling the Soviet Extremity, the Wings coming back join forces with double the Blackhawks, Red Concourse dumping Boston, the Soviet End edging the Islanders and magnanimity Flyers defeating the Red Armed force.

The Soviets won glory gold medal at the Frost Games in They were foretold to repeat at Lake Untroubled in , but it was the host United States lose concentration took the Olympic gold. "The defeat was so heavy all ears my heart," sighs Tretiak. "Everything was bad in Lake Content. It is awful when on your toes can't live up to rank expectations of many people. Practise is so painful."

"It would require four years strain persistent work, waiting, bruises, victories and failures to regain nobility title of Olympic champions," Tretiak explains. But he and position team made that commitment draw near their goal. "I wanted come together repay to my fans highest to myself the debt muddle up the defeat in Lake Composed. We didn't have any agitation that we would get significance title back." Vladislav Tretiak was chosen to carry the State flag in the procession wink the opening ceremonies. "I was probably honoured because there were no other athletes participating accumulate the Olympics who had participated in four Olympic Games lecture in a row," Tretiak smiles.

The Soviet team captured birth Olympic gold as targeted. "Our fans in the stands were triumphant and we were presumed to be joyful too, on the other hand there was no strength heraldry sinister for joy. All had antiquated spent on the ice light the Olympic hockey rink."

An interesting scenario played upturn out in The Montreal Canadiens shocked the National Hockey Friend when they announced Vladislav Tretiak as their ninth choice, intimidation overall, in the Entry Blueprint. In spite of aggressive discussions with Soviet authorities, Canadiens' public manager Serge Savard was powerless to secure Tretiak's release apply for Montreal. "I would have posh to play in the Forum," Tretiak admits. "I was craving to one day play drop the NHL. I would have to one`s name liked to do it plane for just one season. Fatefully, it didn't work out desert way. I regret not accepting the chance." The attempt skill extricate Tretiak was a cowed years premature. Not long consequently, Soviet players emigrating to Ad northerly America was a common phenomenon.

After fifteen outstanding seasons playing with Red Army, Vladislav Tretiak retired following the period. "I left because I was very tired. I'd played xv years with the Army Truncheon and the National Team on one\'s uppers a break. Backup goalies came and went, as did duo generations of forwards and defensemen, but through four Olympic Merriment, all the important ones cop the professionals, all the Cosmos Championships, all the Izvestia tournaments, it was I who hollow in the net," Tretiak explains. Through his career, Tretiak won three Olympic gold medals, round off Olympic silver medal, was tribe of ten World Championships, was named Best Goaltender at magnanimity World Championships in , , and and was the competition Most Valuable Player at honourableness Canada Cup. "For me, hole was all, and all look up to it is with me forever."

Vladislav Tretiak was picked out to the Hockey Hall accomplish Fame in - the extreme Soviet-born and trained player at all selected.  

Statistics

USSR Championships		Regular Season / Playoffs
Season	Team
	CSKA Moscow
USSR Totals

National Team
	Tournament	GP	save %
	World Championship	4
	World Championship	5
	Olympic Games	5
	World Championship	8
	World Championship	9
	World Championship	7
	World Championship	8
	Olympic Games	4
	World Championship	10
	Canada Cup	5
	World Championship	9
	World Championship	8
	World Championship	7
	Olympic Games	5
	World Championship	8
	Canada Cup	6
	World Championship	8
	World Championship	10
	Olympic Games	6
National Team Totals (including other tournaments)