Sergei Nikolaev, an honoured Soviet ice hockey coach who is a member of the national Hockey Hall of Fame, would today have turned 80 years of age.

Sergei Svetlov, an Olympic, world and European champion, celebrates his birthday on 17 January!

Viktor Polupanov, a legendary Soviet ice hockey forward who won the Olympic Games in 1968 and the World Championship in 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1970, is celebrating his 75th birthday on January 1.

Vasily Pervukhin, one of the quickest defensemen in the history of Soviet and Russian ice hockey, celebrates his birthday on 1 January.