Viktor Shuvalov has been awarded the "For Merit to the Fatherland" IV Order

Viktor Shuvalov, the first Soviet world and Olympic champion, has been awarded the "For Merit to the Fatherland" IV Order.

Born in 1923, Viktor won the Olympic Games in 1956, the World Championship twice (1954, 1956), the European Championship three times (1954, 1955, 1956) and the USSR championship on five occasions (1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956). He is a member of the Russian Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.

The award ceremony took place at Viktor's home with Russian Minister of Sport Oleg Matytsin, head of the United Russia faction Sergei Neverov, two-time Olympic champion Boris Mikhailov and chief consultant of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation's National Team Department Igor Tuzik present.



Chief consultant of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation's National Team Department Igor Tuzik:

- We took the decision to hold the ceremony at Viktor's home as a result of the current situation in the world. The order was given to Viktor by Oleg Matytsin, before we all spoke together. We handed Viktor New Year gifts on behalf of the Ministry of Sport and the Russian Ice Hockey Federation.

Despite his age, he still has a wonderful memory and a great sense of humour. I remember going to watch his team play, before we subsequently got to know each other better, in the 1960s, when I started playing myself. And since then we always see each other every year. The veteran community provides Viktor with great support.

In conclusion, Viktor recorded a video message to our junior national team, which will shortly start out at the 2021 World Junior Championship. He wished the players luck and stated his desire for the traditions of the Red Machine to live on.