95 years since the birth of Valentin Bystrov

Exactly 95 years ago, on the 6th of April 1929, legend of Leningrad ice hockey Valentin Bystrov was born.

Valentin was born in Leningrad and spent the entirety of his playing career with clubs from the city. After helping end the Siege of Leningrad, he went on to represent the Bolshevik, Dynamo, Avangard, Kirovets and SKA, making a grand total of 240 appearances in the USSR championship and scoring 104 goals.

He became the first player from Leningrad to play for the Soviet national team, with whom he won the 1958 European Championship and a silver medal of the 1959 World Championship. Following the completion of his playing career, Valentin subsequently worked as an ice hockey referee and coach.

Valentin passed away at the age of 87 on the 15th of January 2017.