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Sergei Pryakhin (ice hockey)

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Sergei Pryakhin
Born (1963-12-07) December 7, 1963 (age 60)
Moscow, Soviet Union
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Left
Played for Krylya Sovetov Moscow
Calgary Flames
Zürcher SC
Kiekko-Espoo
Oji Eagles
National team  Soviet Union
NHL draft 252nd overall, 1988
Calgary Flames
Playing career 1980–2000
Medal record
Representing Soviet Union Soviet Union
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championship
Gold medal – first place 1983 Soviet Union
World Championship
Silver medal – second place 1987 Austria
Gold medal – first place 1990 Switzerland

Sergei Vasilievich Pryakhin (sometimes Priakin; Russian: Сергей Васильевич Пряхин; born December 7, 1963) is a Russian former ice hockey forward who played 20 seasons in several leagues. He is a former captain of Krylya Sovetov Moscow (Soviet Wings) of the Soviet League and was the first Soviet hockey player permitted to play in the National Hockey League (NHL), and the second Soviet player to appear in an NHL game, following Victor Nechayev. He joined the Calgary Flames in 1989 and played parts of three seasons in the NHL. Pryakhin returned to Europe in 1991 where he spent three seasons in Switzerland with Zürcher SC, then four in Finland with Kiekko-Espoo. He also played with the Oji Eagles in Japan for one year before returning to Kryla for a final season before retiring in 2000.

Internationally, Pryakhin was a member of the Soviet national team. He appeared in two World Junior Championships and won a gold medal in 1983. He was a member of two World Championship teams, winning a silver medal in 1987 and gold in 1990. Pryakhin was also a member of the second-place Soviet team at the 1987 Canada Cup.

Playing career

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Pryakhin's top-level career began in 1980 when he appeared in one Soviet League for Krylya Sovetov Moscow (better known in North America as the Soviet Wings). He joined the team full-time in 1981–82 as a 17-year-old, appearing in 43 games for the Wings. Pryakhin's debut with the Soviet national team came the 1982 World Junior Hockey Championship in a fourth-place finish. He returned for the 1983 tournament and scored six points in seven games to help the Soviets win the gold medal.[1]

A mid-level player on both the Wings and the national team,[2] Pryakhin's best seasons in the Soviet league came in 1983–84 when he scored 18 goals, and 1986–87 when he had 32 points. He ultimately rose to become captain of the Wings.[3] He was a member of a Soviet squad that won a silver medal at the 1987 World Championship and finished as runners-up to Canada at the 1987 Canada Cup.[1]

The National Hockey League (NHL)'s Calgary Flames, anticipating that it would be easier to convince the Soviet Hockey Federation to release a non-star member of their national team to play in North America, opted to select Pryakhin with the 252nd, and last, pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.[3] The Soviets began negotiations with the Flames in February 1989, and he signed a contract with Calgary on March 29. He became the first Soviet player permitted by his national federation to play in the NHL.[2] Pryakhin made his NHL debut on March 31 against the Winnipeg Jets.[4] He was the second Soviet player to appear in an NHL game, following Victor Nechayev.[5] Pryahkin appeared in the Flames' final two games of the regular season, and one game of the 1989 playoffs as the Flames went on to win the Stanley Cup. He did not play enough games or in the finals so his name was left off the Cup. Calgary did give Pryakhin a Stanley Cup ring and included him in the team picture.

Pryahkin scored his first NHL goal on October 10, 1989, against the New Jersey Devils.[5] He appeared in 20 games with the Flames in 1989–90 and scored 2 goals and 4 points. He added 1 goal and 6 assists in 24 games in 1990–91 and made appearances with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, Calgary's International Hockey League affiliate in both seasons. Internationally, Pryahkin appeared in three games and won a gold medal with the Soviet team at the 1990 World Championship.[1]

Returning to Europe in 1991–92, Pryahkin joined Zürcher SC of the Swiss top division. He was a member of the team for three seasons, splitting 1992–93 with Krylya Sovetov in his Russian home, before moving on to the Finnish SM-liiga for four seasons with Kiekko-Espoo. Pryahkin spent a season in Japan in 1998–99 before closing out his career with Krylya Sovetov in the Russian second division in 2000.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1979–80 Krylya Sovetov Moscow Soviet 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
1980–81 Krylya Sovetov Moscow Soviet 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
1981–82 Krylya Sovetov Moscow Soviet 43 4 5 9 23 — — — — —
1982–83 Krylya Sovetov Moscow Soviet 35 11 9 20 18 — — — — —
1983–84 Krylya Sovetov Moscow Soviet 44 18 13 31 24 — — — — —
1984–85 Krylya Sovetov Moscow Soviet 32 14 9 23 10 — — — — —
1985–86 Krylya Sovetov Moscow Soviet 39 12 13 25 16 — — — — —
1986–87 Krylya Sovetov Moscow Soviet 40 12 20 32 18 — — — — —
1987–88 Krylya Sovetov Moscow Soviet 44 10 15 25 16 — — — — —
1988–89 Krylya Sovetov Moscow Soviet 44 11 15 26 23 — — — — —
1988–89 Calgary Flames NHL 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0
1989–90 Calgary Flames NHL 20 2 2 4 0 2 0 0 0 0
1989–90 Salt Lake Golden Eagles IHL 3 1 0 1 0 — — — — —
1990–91 Calgary Flames NHL 24 1 6 7 0 — — — — —
1990–91 Salt Lake Golden Eagles IHL 18 5 12 17 2 — — — — —
1991–92 Zürcher SC NDA 42 21 25 46 24 7 4 4 8 2
1992–93 Krylya Sovetov Moscow RUS 20 4 4 8 10 — — — — —
1992–93 Zürcher SC NDA 23 12 5 17 12 4 2 1 3 4
1993–94 Zürcher SC NDA 29 19 15 34 20 — — — — —
1994–95 Kiekko-Espoo SM-l 50 13 20 33 49 4 1 4 5 0
1995–96 Kiekko-Espoo SM-l 49 9 24 33 53 — — — — —
1996–97 Kiekko-Espoo SM-l 50 15 25 40 53 4 0 0 0 2
1997–98 Kiekko-Espoo SM-l 46 11 24 35 24 8 3 3 6 0
1998–99 Oji Eagles JPN 19 6 10 16 — — — — — —
1999–2000 Krylya Sovetov Moscow RUS II 23 4 5 9 14 — — — — —
Soviet totals 343 96 103 199 158 — — — — —
NHL totals 46 3 8 11 2 3 0 0 0 0
SM-l totals 195 48 93 141 179 16 4 7 11 2

International

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Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
1981 Soviet Union EJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 4 2 6 4
1982 Soviet Union WJC 4th 7 2 1 3 4
1983 Soviet Union WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 2 4 6 13
1987 Soviet Union WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 8 0 2 2 8
1987 Soviet Union CC 2nd 9 0 2 2 6
1990 Soviet Union WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3 0 1 1 2
Junior totals 19 8 7 15 21
Senior totals 20 0 5 5 16

References

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  1. ^ a b c Podnieks, Andrew, ed. (2011). IIHF Guide & Record Book 2012. International Ice Hockey Federation. p. 508. ISBN 978-0-7710-9598-6.
  2. ^ a b Mifflin, Lawrie (1989-03-30). "N.H.L. team signs first Soviet player, and he's a surprise". New York Times. Retrieved 2013-07-27.
  3. ^ a b Cotton, Crosbie (1989-04-10). "A red-letter day". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on July 27, 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-27.
  4. ^ Duhatschek, Eric (1989-04-01). "Priakin loves playing in 'Dome". Calgary Herald. p. G1.
  5. ^ a b Halls, Pat, ed. (1990). 1990–91 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club.
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