Mats Naslund in IIHF Hall of Fame

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www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=124891&hubName=nhl

VIENNA (CP) - Former NHL stars Mats Naslund and Vyacheslav Fetisov were among six people inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame on Saturday.


Naslund and Fetisov were inducted as players along with long-time German national team stalwart Alois Schloder and former Soviet great Viktor Kuzkin.



Jorgen Hviid, known as the father of Danish hockey, was inducted in the builders category and former referee Quido Adamec of the Czech Republic went in as an official.



Fetisov and Naslund are among only 14 players to win a Stanley Cup, a world championship and an Olympic gold medal during their careers.



Naslund won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986, led Sweden to a world championship in 1991 and an Olympic title in 1994.







"After I left Montreal I won a world championship and an Olympic gold and without those two wins, I don't think I'd be inducted here," said Naslund, who played eight seasons for the Canadiens in the 1980s.



"It's a great honour for me being inducted at the same time as Slava Fetisov. We played against each other since we were 15 or 16. He was a great, great hockey player and now, I'm in the same category."



Fetisov won seven gold medals, one silver and three bronze at the world championship, as well as two gold and a silver at the Olympics. He also won a pair of Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings.


Kuzkin won eight world championships as well as three Oympic gold medals as part of the dominant Soviet team of the 1960s and 1970s.



Schloder played 23 seasons in the German league, where he was team captain for 15 years with the Landshut club.


Photos of the inductees go up in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.



The IIHF hall of fame was formed in 1997. Although none went in this year, there are 19 inductees from Canada.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Fetisov is one of the greatest players the game has ever known.

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Sunday, 15th May

Fetisov appreciates IIHF Hall of Fame induction

By John Sanful
Vienna

There are few athletes more accomplished than Viacheslav Fetisov. Whether you're talking about his career in the Soviet Union, his international exploits, or his NHL achievements, his resume is lengthy as it is impressive.

And with his induction in the IIHF Hall of Fame, Fetisov has now capped off a career that includes 11 World Championship medals (seven gold, one silver, three bronze); three Olympic medals (two gold; one silver); and two Stanley Cups.

"I am complete with this honor here today," Fetisov said after the induction ceremony on Saturday in Vienna. "This is one of the highest possible honors I can have. I am honored, grateful and deeply touched by what the committee has done to put me in such a category. It is quite special."

But perhaps what he is remembered for best beyond the rink is challenging the Soviet system when he made his move to leave home and play in the NHL for the New Jersey Devils in 1989. Previously, Soviet athletes mostly had to defect if they wanted to compete in North America.

When you see the impact of Russian hockey players today in the NHL and elsewhere, it shows how far hockey and indeed the world has come over the last 20 years. Fetisov was a star who fought for the freedom to live his life in his own way, on his own terms.

He had to take on a bureaucracy that did not want a player of his magnitude to leave. Regardless, Fetisov pressed his case until finally he was able to suit up for New Jersey, paving the way for future generations to ply their trade anywhere in the world.

In so many ways, young stars like Alexander Ovechkin owe Fetisov a debt of gratitude. But you won't find the former world class defenseman searching for praise.

"It is hard to say something about yourself and what your actions may or may not have been," said Fetisov. "I think only history can judge what happened over the years and what it means and how it affects the game itself."

Now as Head of the Russian State Sports Committee (Goskomsport), Fetisov is an influential member from within the system who has gone back to help . Prior to arriving in Vienna for the IIHF World Championship and induction ceremony, Fetisov watched Russia's games on television and said he was impressed.

Despite losing to Canada, Russian hockey has demonstrated its continuing strength. There are plenty of problems within the system, yet the Russians continue to produce some of the best players in the world.

Fetisov believes Russian hockey's hopes for success in future tournaments are strong.

"When you look at the NHL draft over the last few years you have a number of Russian players taken, and that shows good players are being produced. And with our world junior team so successful over the years, the system is still working, and development is going on the junior level."

- www.ihwc.net/english/article/news/index.ihwc?artId=2189

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Selected by Montreal Canadiens round 12 #201 overall 1978 NHL Amateur Draft
C'est correct, ça. The Habs drafted Fetisov as a 20 year-old, well before the Iron Curtain showed signs of rust.

Selected by Montreal Canadiens round 7 #138 overall 1983 NHL Entry Draft
They also drafted the greatest goalie ever to play the game.

Imagine the Habs of the late 70s and the 80s with Fetisov and Tretiak (backed up by a young Patrick Roy). Ah, perchance to dream...