Viacheslav Fetisov

Who is Viacheslav Fetisov?

Viacheslav "Slava" Alexandrovich Fetisov is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman. He played for HC CSKA Moscow for 13 seasons before joining the National Hockey League, where he played with the New Jersey Devils and won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings. After retiring from his playing career, he became the assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils. Having a very successful four years, he helped get the team to two Stanley Cup finals and one Stanley Cup victory. Fetisov was instrumental in breaking the barrier that stopped Soviet players from joining the NHL. Internationally, he was a long-time captain for the Soviet Union national team and won two gold medals at the Winter Olympics. In 2002, Fetisov led the Russian Ice Hockey Olympic team as GM and Head Coach, attaining a bronze medal. Considered one of the best defensemen of all time, he was voted as one of six players to the International Ice Hockey Federation's Centennial All-Star Team.

After retiring as a coach, Fetisov embarked on a political and executive career. Following the 2002 Winter Olympics Russian President Vladimir Putin offered him the position as Minister of Sport, he held this post until 2008. He is currently a member of the upper house of the Federal Assembly of Russia representing Primorsky Krai, the founder and chairman of the Board of Directors of the KHL and chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency Athletes Committee. Fetisov was president of professional Russian hockey club HC CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League. He was also the key member of the bidding committee presenting the Sochi 2014 proposal to the IOC in Guatemala in 2007, when a city was being chosen to host the 2014 Winter Olympics.