75th anniversary of Valeri Vasiliev's birth

Valeri Vasiliev, a legendary Soviet defenseman who twice won the Olympic Games, the World Championship on eight occasions, the World Championship twice and the Canada Cup once, would have today been celebrating his 75th birthday.



Furthermore, thanks to his unquestionable global success, Valeri was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2008. He was also named the best defenseman of the World Championship in three separate editions of the competition.



Sadly, on 19 April 2012, Valeri passed away.