Ice hockey player Samsonov Sergey: biography, achievements

"This boy, as a gift of fate, does not have any weaknesses, the driving is phenomenal, he plays the stick fantastically," Sergei Gimaev, a famous hockey coach and an expert, awarded to the unknown 16-year-old Sergei Samsonov.

It's no secret that young sports talents are often given similar advances. But to fully realize their potential is possible only units. One of them is a Russian hockey player Samsonov Sergey Viktorovich.

First steps

Much in the sporting career of Sergei Samsonov occurred, rather, contrary to any specific patterns. Sergei was born on October 27, 1978 in Moscow. The metropolitan city provided a wide choice of various sports clubs and sections. However, at first Sergei's parents did not think to give their child to the sport. But, as they say: "There would be no happiness, but misfortune helped." On the recommendation of doctors after suffering pneumonia, the decision to give the child to the sport was the most correct. And at first, the question of serious sports did not come up. The first steps in hockey Sergei Samsonov did in the sports school "Dynamo". However, two years later, at the insistence of his father, the boy went to the army school. At the age of fourteen, fate threw Samsonov in the hockey junior league in Germany, where he loudly declared himself, having thrown 200 goals in the season.

Careers in Russia

Russian hockey fans discovered Samsonov on November 14, 1994. In Luzhniki, a friendly match took place between CSKA and the team of "Stars of Russia", which included masters such as Fetisov, Makarov, Fedorov, Larionov and many others. Sergei Samsonov - hockey player, who performed under the fortieth number, but in the program for the match his name did not even appear. The fans had to guess what kind of brisk boy he had been straining the defense of hockey stars time after time. In that game, Sergei marked an abandoned puck. Then came the tour with CSKA's youth team in North America. CSKA played thirty matches, beating in twenty-two of them. The lion's share of the pucks fell to the share of two hockey players: Sergei Samsonov and Andrei Petrunin. Against the background of such a successful game follows an invitation to the junior team of Russia to participate in the European Championships. Despite the failure of the national team, Sergei Samsonov - the striker - is recognized as the best in the championship, and he is in the symbolic team.

Season 1995-96 Sergei is already in the rank of the main player of CSKA. Twenty-one thrown a washer and the best newcomer prize of the season somewhat brightened up the whole unsuccessful performance of the army club.

Departure overseas

Already at that time it was clear that a talented young man would not stay in Russia for a long time. The only question that arose among the fans, which way of departure will choose Samsonov Sergey. Civilized, after waiting for a draft, or directly by signing a contract through an agent? Fate itself pushed Sergei to choose the second option. At that time in Russia around CSKA there were constant trials. The option to create an alternative club was seriously discussed. From the team survived the legendary Viktor Tikhonov. In this situation, Samsonov decides to move to North America to the IHL Club Vipers. And already in the first season in "Vipers" Sergei helped his team win the Turner Cup. It is worth noting that this was the only victory of "Vipers" in the history of the club. Sergei Samsonov - hockey player, who by the end of the season was recognized as the best rookie of the league of the IHL.

Debut in the NHL

After the 1997 season, it became clear that Samsonov had outgrown the level of the IHL. In the 1997 draft, he was selected under the eighth number by the NHL Boston Bruins. At first, skeptical predictions of some specialists were justified, believing that according to their anthropometric data (Sergei's height was only 174 cm) Samsonov will find it difficult to play in the strongest hockey league in the world. The first twenty-five matches in the NHL brought the following statistical results: 3 goals scored, 9 assists and a terrifying indicator of utility - 10. But, as it turned out, a lot depended on the partners in the game three. With the transfer to the link to Ellison and Khristich, the affairs of Sergei were well established. Samsonov began to regularly score and assist the partners. As a result, at the end of the season, Sergei wins the "Calder Trophy" - the prize given to the best season newcomer in the NHL.

Career in the NHL

In total, in the "Boston Bruins" Sergei Samsonov spent eight seasons. In March 2006, the club's management decided to sell it to Edmonton Oilers, a mid-sized NHL club. And suddenly with the arrival of Sergei the oil industry changed. After issuing a winning streak at the finish of the regular season, Edmonton is in the playoffs of the Stanley Cup. There miracles continue: Samsonov's team unexpectedly reaches the final, where in the seven-match match is inferior to hockey players from Carolina.

In the asset Samsonov - 15 points scored. It would seem that Sergei's career is going up sharply, but the subsequent transition to "Montreal", to a large salary, crosses all the hopes. In the game model of "Montreal" Sergei and could not fully fit. There was a bad season followed by an exchange in Chicago, where the situation was further aggravated. Zero abandoned pucks in twenty-four games - and the leadership of "Chicago" sends the once formidable striker to the farm club, in parallel exposing it to a draft failure.

It would seem that you can tie a dream about a big hockey. But another chance was given to Samsonov by the leaders of the Carolina Hurricanes, who signed a three-year contract with Sergei. In Carolina, viewers fragmentarily saw the Samsonov, who managed to fall in love with the years spent in the NHL. However, the age and consequences of the injuries did not allow Sergei to fully realize his playing potential. And in 2011 Samsonov Sergey Viktorovich finishes career of the professional hockey player. At the moment he continues to work in the club system from Carolina, performing the duties of a scout.

This is the sporting fate of one of the most prominent representatives of hockey Russia of the 90s. With its ups and downs, successes and failures ...