Victor Nechayev

Last updated
Victor Nechayev
Born (1955-01-28) January 28, 1955 (age 68)
Kuybyshevka-Vostochnaya, Amur Oblast,
Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position Forward
Shot Left
Played for Los Angeles Kings
NHL Draft 132nd overall, 1982
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 19721984

Victor Nechayev (born January 28, 1955) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player who played three games for the Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League. [1] He was the first player from the Soviet Union to play in the NHL, as well as the first to score a goal.

Contents

A native of Siberia, Nechayev met Cheryl Haigler, an American citizen, in Switzerland in 1976, while he was playing for the Red Army team. They married in 1980 in Leningrad. [2] In April 1982, Nechayev was granted permission to join his wife in the United States. [3]

In the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, Nechayev was picked 132nd overall by the Kings. Unlike other Soviet players, Nechayev was able to join the team immediately, since he was already living in North America at the time he was drafted. [4] He scored his only NHL goal against the New York Rangers on October 17, 1982. [3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1972–73 Sibir Novosibirsk USSR-2 341041416
1973–74Sibir NovosibirskUSSR-2131120
1974–75Sibir NovosibirskUSSR-247641035
1975–76 SKA Leningrad USSR 122026
1976–77Sudostroitel LeningradUSSR-328112138
1977–78 SKA LeningradUSSR2251610
1978–79 SKA LeningradUSSR2444812
1979–80 Severstal Cherepovets USSR-33
1979–80 Binokor Tashkent USSR-261122
1980–81Izhorets LeningradUSSR-31650512
1982–83 Los Angeles Kings NHL 31010
1982–83 New Haven Nighthawks AHL 2847116
1982–83 Saginaw Gears IHL 101450
1983–84 Düsseldorfer EG GER 38791630
USSR totals581151628
NHL totals31010

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References

  1. Maughan, TJ (14 May 2012). "The Shifts that Changed the Game: The Defection". Arctic Ice Hockey. Vox Media. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  2. Elderkin, Phil (27 October 1982). "Ex-Red Army player breaks the NHL ice (briefly) as league's first Soviet skater". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  3. 1 2 Peng, Sheng (22 October 2016). "Spies, System & Victor Netchaev". NHL. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  4. "1982 NHL Draft Pick - Victor Nechaev" . Retrieved 21 April 2020.