Valeri Borisovich
Kharlamov
1948-1981
Valeri Borisovich Kharlamov was a Soviet ice hockey player, forward for CSKA Moscow (1967-1981) and the USSR national team (1969-1980), honored as an Honored Master of Sports of the USSR since 1969. He was a two-time Olympic champion (1972, 1976), eight-time world champion, and recognized as the best hockey player in the USSR in 1972 and 1973. Kharlamov was one of the leading figures in Soviet hockey during the 1970s, gaining wide recognition both within the USSR and internationally. He has been a member of the IIHF Hall of Fame since 1998 and the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto since 2005. He was born on January 14, 1948, in Moscow to Boris Sergeyevich Kharlamov (1927-2010), a test fitter at the Kommunar factory, and Carmen Oribe Abad (1925-1987), of Basque origin, who at the age of 12 in 1937 was evacuated from the civil war-torn Spain to the USSR and from the 1940s worked in the chemical laboratory of the same factory. Valeri graduated from the State Central Order of Lenin Institute of Physical Culture (now the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism, GTSOLIFK, Moscow). In the mid-1950s, he began learning to skate under his father’s guidance, who played on the factory’s bandy team. In 1962, he started playing ice hockey at the CSKA youth sports school. His debut with CSKA’s main team took place on October 22, 1967, in a match against Novosibirsk’s “Siberia,” which ended with a 6:2 victory for Moscow. In November 1967, he was sent to Chebarkul’s “Zvezda,” an army team of the Ural Military District competing in the second league, where he became the top scorer with 34 goals in 40 games. In March 1968, he returned to CSKA and scored his first goal for the team on April 22 in a match against “Krylya Sovetov.” In the 1967-1968 season, he won the USSR championship for the first time, and then went on to win it ten more times (1970-1973, 1975, 1977-1981), as well as finishing as runner-up three times (1969, 1974, 1976). He played a total of 438 matches for CSKA and scored 293 goals. On December 1, 1968, he made his debut for the USSR’s second national team in a game against Canada at the Moscow International Tournament, scoring two goals. On December 6 of the same year, he appeared on the ice with the main national team in a friendly match against Canada. In January 1969, he took part in a North American tour and scored his first goal for the national team on January 19. In March 1969, he became world champion in Stockholm, and later won the title seven more times: in 1970 (Stockholm), 1971 (Bern and Geneva), 1973 (Moscow), 1974 (Helsinki), 1975 (Munich and Düsseldorf), 1978 (Prague), and 1979 (Moscow). He also won silver medals in 1972 and 1976 and a bronze medal in 1977. Kharlamov was a two-time Olympic champion, winning gold medals at the XI Winter Olympics (1972, Sapporo) and XII Winter Olympics (1976, Innsbruck), and a silver medalist at the XIII Winter Olympics (1980, Lake Placid). In total, he played 123 matches at World Championships and Olympic Games, scoring 89 goals. He participated in the Super Series of 1972 and 1974, scoring five goals in those games. From 1968 to 1980, he played on a line with Boris Mikhailov and Vladimir Petrov, considered one of the strongest lines in hockey history. His last game for the USSR national team was on August 18, 1981, in Helsinki against Finland (a 5:2 victory). Valeri Kharlamov held the title of Honored Master of Sports of the USSR (1969) and the military rank of Major. He was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honour (1972), the Orders of the Red Banner of Labour (1975, 1978), and the Medal for Labour Valour (1969). His number 17 is permanently retired by both the Russian national team and CSKA – no one else may wear it in their lineups, except for his son, Alexander. In honor of Valeri Kharlamov, a square located near the CSKA Arena sports complex on Avtozavodskaya Street was named after him.
Address: Moscow, Valery Kharlamov Square
