CIS national ice hockey team

Last updated
Commonwealth of Independent States
CIS-euro92-flag.png
Most games Andrei Khomutov (13)
Most pointsAndrei Khomutov (17)
IIHF codeCIS
First international
Austria  Flag of Austria.svg 2–7 Flag of the CIS (UEFA Euro 1992).svg  CIS
(Feldkirch, Austria; 19 January 1992)
Last international
Olympic flag.svg Unified Team 3–1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
(Méribel, France; 23 February 1992)
Biggest win
France  Flag of France.svg 0–8 Olympic flag.svg Unified Team
(Méribel, France; 14 February 1992)
Biggest defeat
Switzerland  Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg 3–0 Flag of the CIS (UEFA Euro 1992).svg  CIS
(Rapperswil, Switzerland; 4 February 1992)
Olympics
Appearances1 (first in 1992 )
Medals Gold medal.svg Gold (1992)
International record (W–L–T)
11–2–0

The CIS national ice hockey team was an ephemeral national ice hockey team that represented the Commonwealth of Independent States. [1] Essentially the former Soviet team under a different name, the CIS team existed in the few months between the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the formation of new ice hockey federations for the former Soviet states, now independent countries. Most notably, the team competed at the 1992 Winter Olympics as part of the Unified Team , winning the gold medal. However, the International Ice Hockey Federation would later attribute this gold medal to Russia as the successor state. [2] [3] The International Olympic Committee does not attribute that medal to Russia. [4] After the Olympics, the CIS team ceased to exist and was replaced by the Russian team. In the 13 games the CIS played, they won 11 and lost 2.

Contents

History

Viktor Tikhonov, who coached the Soviet national team, served as the coach for the Unified Team at the Olympics. Viktor Tikhonov at football.jpg
Viktor Tikhonov, who coached the Soviet national team, served as the coach for the Unified Team at the Olympics.

The Soviet Union was dissolved in December 1991, only weeks before the start of the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. As a result, there was no time to send a replacement for the Soviet national team, who was expected to compete at the Olympics. In effect, the Soviet team participated, under the name "Unified Team" and with the "CCCP" on their uniforms removed, leaving a blank spot. Rather than the Soviet national anthem, the Olympic Hymn was played, and the Olympic flag was used instead of the Soviet flag. [2]

Many of the best Soviet players had since left the former Soviet Union for the National Hockey League (NHL), which did not stop play for the Olympics. Thus, the team used players from the Russian and Swiss leagues instead, and head coach Viktor Tikhonov, known for his authoritarian style of coaching, was forced to modify his strategy, as he had no leverage over the players. [2] Despite the absence of superstars, the CIS team had no problems with talent, [5] boasting experienced veterans Vyacheslav Bykov, Andrei Khomutov and Alexei Zhamnov. [6] The team was composed almost entirely of Russians, with Lithuanian-born Darius Kasparaitis and Ukrainian-born Alexei Zhitnik the only non-Russians. Kasparaitis would later represent Russia in international competition. In 2017, he switched to join the Lithuanian national team. Zhitnik would represent Russia throughout his career.

They played in three friendlies against Austria, Canada, and Italy in January 1992. They defeated the Austrians and Canadians 7-2 each, and the Italians by a score of 4–2.

The national team next took part in the Nissan Cup, hosted by Switzerland. They defeated Finland in the semifinals 6–2, but were surprised by the Swiss hosts in the final, losing by a score of 3–0. [7]

At the 1992 Winter Olympics held in Albertville, France, the national team finished with a 7–1 record, and won the gold medal by defeating Canada 3–1 in the final.

After the Olympics, the team was dissolved and replaced by the Russian national team and other national teams for the independent post-Soviet states.

Olympic record

GamesGPWLTGFGACoachCaptainFinish
19561988
Flag of France.svg 1992 Albertville
87104614 Viktor Tikhonov Vyacheslav Bykov Gold medal icon.svg Gold
1994 – present
AsFlag of Russia.svg  Russia

Roster

Vyacheslav Bykov served as captain of the Unified Team. Slava Bykov.jpg
Vyacheslav Bykov served as captain of the Unified Team.

A total of 20 skaters and 2 goalies players played for the Unified Team at the 1992 Winter Olympics. Nikolai Borschevsky and Andrei Khomutov tied for the lead in goals, with 7 each, while Khomutov and Vyacheslav Bykov had the most assists, 7. Khomutov had the most points on the team, with 14. While named to the team, Nikolai Khabibulin did not play in any games.

Skaters

NumberPositionPlayerClubGPGAPtsPIM
2D Dmitri Yushkevich Dynamo Moscow 8123
3D Igor Kravchuk CSKA Moscow 8325
4D Vladimir Malakhov CSKA Moscow 8303
5D Dmitri Mironov Krylya Sovetov Moscow 8314
6D Darius Kasparaitis Dynamo Moscow 8022
7D Sergei Bautin Dynamo Moscow 8000
8C Igor Boldin Spartak Moscow 8268
10LW Sergei Petrenko Dynamo Moscow 8325
11LW Evgeny Davydov CSKA Moscow 8336
12RW Nikolai Borschevsky Spartak Moscow 8729
13LW Yuri Khmylev Krylya Sovetov Moscow 84610
14RW Alexei Kovalev Dynamo Moscow 8123
15RW Andrei Khomutov Fribourg-Gottéron 87714
16D Sergei Zubov CSKA Moscow 8011
22C Vyacheslav Butsayev CSKA Moscow 8112
23D Alexei Zhitnik CSKA Moscow 8101
24LW Vitali Prokhorov Spartak Moscow 8246
26C Alexei Zhamnov Dynamo Moscow 8033
27C Vyacheslav Bykov Fribourg-Gottéron 84711
29RW Andrei Kovalenko CSKA Moscow 8112

Goaltenders

NumberPlayerClubGPWLMinGAGAASV%SO
1 Andrei Trefilov Dynamo Moscow 4
20 Mikhail Shtalenkov Dynamo Moscow 8
30 Nikolai Khabibulin CSKA Moscow

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References

  1. "Commonwealth of Independent States". National Teams of Ice Hockey. Archived from the original on 2013-07-04. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
  2. 1 2 3 4 IIHF (2008). "Team with no name wins Olympic gold". IIHF.com. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  3. IIHF. "OLYMPIC ICE HOCKEY TOURNAMENTS, MEN". IIHF.com. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  4. IOC (2018). "ICE HOCKEY MEN". olympic.org. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  5. Sports Reference
  6. "Story #59".
  7. "The Olympics: Winter Games at Albertville". LA Times. 1992-02-09. Retrieved 2013-06-16.