The team of ice hockey legends from Russia is currently visiting Israel, as part of the events marking the 30th anniversary of the renewal of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Past players will hold two showcase games with the participation of Israeli players in the "OneIce" hall in Moshav Tnuvot.
On Thursday, the guests will face a blue-and-white team, which will consist of ice hockey veterans from Israel, and the next day there will be a special game as part of the "The Last Game" project of the superstar Vyacheslav Patisov.
The Ice Hockey Legends team includes the best past players who grew up in Russia and the former Soviet Union, including first-rate stars whose names have resonated until recently in hockey halls around the world: Olympic champions Sergei Makrov, Alexei Kastonov, Alexei Gossrov, Vyacheslav Alexandr Botsayev, In the punch and many more good ones.
But even in such a group of super-athletes, Patisov stands out, of course, high above them all.
Patisov (right) with the Russian ambassador to Israel, Photo: Lev Ganin
Patisov is one of the best defensive players in the history of the industry, and his greatness is based on the fact that he reached unprecedented achievements in the 80s and 90s in the two main arenas of ice hockey - first in the Soviet Union, and later in the North American NHL.
During the Soviet era, Patisov starred for 12 seasons at CSKA Moscow (in all the seasons he played, the team won the Soviet Championship) and was captain of the team, which was then considered the best in the world. , A silver medal and two bronze medals at the World Championships.
With the loosening of the communist regime in the Soviet Union, Patisov was one of the few Soviet players allowed to play in the NHL, in the New Jersey Devils and then in the Detroit Red Wings, where he also made a corps.
In the ranks of the Red Wings, he won two consecutive Stanley Cups, and retired from active play in 1998.
At the end of an acceptable three-year waiting period, in 2001, Patisov was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
From the Himalayas to Moshav Tnuvot
At the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, Patisov added a bronze medal to his collection, this time as a coach and professional manager of the Russian national team, and as a result turned to a public and political career.
He currently serves as a member of the Russian parliament on behalf of President Putin's ruling party, and is active in international sports organizations.
Owned by Patisov Hockey Academy, and the largest sports hall in the city of Vladivostok in the Russian Far East bears his name - "Patisov Arena".
No other athlete has ever received such a tribute in his life.
The Last Game, founded by Patisov as the UN's Goodwill Ambassador to Arctic and Antarctic, aims to highlight the connection between the hockey game and the ice and draw public attention to the disappearance of snow and glaciers in particular, and environmental issues in general, and change. As part of the project, the former athlete organizes hockey games in different corners of the globe and reveals to the participants through them the unique challenges involved in protecting the environment at the place of play. The Himalayas - and received a lot of media attention.
Ice Hockey Legends Team from Russia / These Days in Israel,
The "Last Game" in Israel, along with past players, will feature youth players, hockey players and disabled ice hockey players, which is currently considered one of the most popular disciplines in the Paralympic Games.
In addition, members of the Russian hockey team, as experienced as you already understand, will conduct training for Israeli youth players during the visit and meet with local fans.
