Vladimir Konstantinov: Russian citizen of America

Vladimir Konstantinov - live legend "Detroit Reg Wigs". He had a lifetime of strong-willed character and a desire for victory, which could not break even the worst injuries sustained during the accident.

The beginning of the way

The birthplace of Vladimir Konstantinov, the living legend of Detroit, is the city of Murmansk. It was here that the future owner of the Stanley Cup was born and raised. And it was in Murmansk that for the first time Volodya was able to put on his skates and go out on the big ice of the city skating rinks, where he was noticed by Anikiev Petr Anreevich. The latter became the first coach and mentor of the future NHL star. Under the leadership of Anikiev Konstantinov was in favor of "Shipyard".

On one of the games against the youth team of the capital, CSKA, he was singled out among all the other participants by Gennady Tsygankov. Thanks to his recommendation, Vladimir at the age of seventeen leaves his native penates and is sent to conquer Moscow. Two years later, Konstantinov, who had excellently proved himself both as a central striker and as a defender, was included in the youth team of the Soviet Union. Together with other team members, Vladimir wins gold medals in Canada. Returning home, Konstantinov, at the insistence of the Main Coaching Council, moves into the adult team of CSKA. Thanks to a well-seasoned hockey player included in the national team of the Soviet Union, where he becomes the youngest of the players.

The game for the USSR national team

At the World Championships in 1986, held in Moscow, Vladimir Konstantinov played in the position of the striker. In ten games, he was able to win two points for one goal scored and one assists. As a result, the young striker and his team won the world hockey championship.

The 1989 and 1990 World Championships also brought gold medals to the player's box. As the spectators and participants of the teams note, Konstantinov always differed on the ice with a tenacious grasp and the ability to fight for every puck to the finish.

Participation in the National Hockey League

In the early nineties the young star of the Soviet national team turns out to be overseas and starts performing at the ice hockey grounds of the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings. As part of the "red wings" Konstantinov spends several seasons in a row. According to the results of the first season, the hockey player shows phenomenal results and gets into the symbolic team of "all stars" for beginners.

Also Vladimir Konstantinov was remembered by overseas hockey fans as a participant of the famous "Russian five". The latter was formed at the beginning of the 1995-1996 season by the efforts of Scotty Bowman, the senior coach of the "wings". In early 1995, his club acquired Igor Larionov, who transferred to the "Detroit" from the "San Jose Sharks". Bowman decides to take a risky experiment. He lets out on the ice arena Russian-speaking five, consisting only of Russian players - Fetisov, Larionov, Kozlov, Fedorov. Hockey players very quickly could "play" among themselves and already in the first matches began to show brilliant results.

As a result of the next season, "Detroit" becomes the owner of the Stanley Cup. However, five days after the victorious finale, one of the main culprits for the success of the "red wings" overtakes a great misfortune.

Tragedy on the road

On June 13, 1997, after a gala dinner in honor of the victory in the Stanley Cup, two players, Konstantinov and Fetisov, and the masseur of Detroit, drove in a limousine rented. The driver of the car, which later turned out to be under the influence of narcotic substances, could not cope with the control, as a result of which the car crashed into a tree. Fetisov escaped with light bruises of the thigh and thorax. Vladimir Konstantinov was seriously injured, due to which he had to abandon his career as a hockey player. For several years, the former star of Detroit has gone for the restoration of speech and memory. But doctors could not bring Konstantinov to his feet. The owner of the Stanley Cup has always remained chained to a wheelchair.

Vladimir Konstantinov - hockey player in the armchair

For the fans of the "Detroit" no player has become so expensive and memorable as Vladimir Konstantinov. Biography of a hockey player is divided into life before and after a terrible tragedy. A year after the crash, the former player of the Red Wings, along with his partners, was awarded a reception in the White House of the United States. In the same year, the favorite team of Konstantinov again won the Stanley Cup. However, by the decision of all the players and the leadership of the team, Vladimir Konstantinov was the first to pick up the golden cup. Photos from this memorable event can be found in the article. The appearance on the ice of the former player of the team in a wheelchair caused a storm of emotions from the fans. The latter could not help crying.

Vladimir Konstantinov - hockey player with a capital letter. He is still honored and remembered in Detroit. Live proof of this - a sign with the name of the hockey player, which after so many years continues to hang in the locker room of the team. All the seasons spent for "Detroit", Konstantinov played under the sixteenth number. However, none of the players "wings" as a sign of respect for Vladimir not dare to wear a T-shirt with so much expensive for him a figure.

US Citizen

In 2005, the legend "Detroit" was finally able to obtain the citizenship of the country in which he lived for more than twenty years. Concerning the delivery of an official document confirming the status of a citizen of America, Konstantinov was given a solemn ceremony, led by Judge George Matiash. The last one at the presentation of citizenship noted that his country could not have gotten a more worthy citizen than Vladimir Konstantinov. Family hockey player and himself a former player of the "red wings" currently live in one of the suburbs of Detroit.