WE FOUGHT AND BROKE BONES ON THE HOCKEY RINK, BUT WHEN THE GAME WAS OVER, WE WENT TO BARS WITH OUR RIVAL TEAMS, WE DRANK BEER WITH THE OTHER GUYS, AND LOVED ONE ANOTHER

The man who broke the ice: Legendary Russian hockey player Viacheslav Fetisov made history during the Cold War when he joined the NHL

By Dean Shmuel Elmas

Israel Hayom
December 14, 2019

The Cold War was the dominant feature of the 20th century. It was felt everywhere, including in sports, and particularly in ice hockey.

Nowadays many Russian athletes play in the NHL and it has become a fact of life, but during the height of the Cold War, having a Soviet player skate in America's hockey rinks was thought to be impossible.

That is, until Viacheslav Fetisov did the impossible.

Fetisov had been a famous and decorated player in the USSR, earning the nickname Russian Devil. It is thanks to him that the Soviet national team twice won gold in the Winter Olympics. Then he made history by getting the Kremlin's approval to play in the NHL, opening the floodgates for more to follow.

Today he is considered a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Sports change reality

The newly released movie The Russian Five tells the story of Fetisov and four other Russian players who played in the Detroit Red Wings on its journey to two championship titles. The movie, brought to Israel by Israeli hockey player Lev Genin, has a good chance of getting nominated for the Oscars.

"I fought Communism," Fetisov told Israel Hayom ahead of the movie's release several weeks ago. "It was a struggle for my rights, for my freedom of choice."

The arrival of one of the most famous Russian hockey players was a huge culture shock for Americans. He was often referred to as "that Soviet guy who came to play in our league."

But that didn't stop Fetisov. "They understood quite quickly that we are all humans. That first year was very difficult for me in New Jersey, where I had to adapt to the local culture. At the end of that year, we discovered that we had so much in common, and now it's all behind us."

How did your story, of the five Russian players, help relations between the Soviet Union and the US?

"We proved that we can change reality. We faced propaganda and like everyone we fought on the hockey rink, but when the game was over, we went to bars with our rival teams, we drank beer with the other guys, and loved one another. It shows you can fight and break bones and then sit in a bar and drink beer and talk about your family, your country, your language. I made many lifelong friends during that period."

Fetisov said the collapse of the Soviet Union and the reconciliation between the West and the East was a dream come true.

"My daughter was born in the US, and she has dual citizenship, and I remember an event that explains everything about the current relationship," he says, recalling the visit Russian President Vladimir Putin made to the US after 9/11.

"I saw how the Americans thanked him, and that warmed my heart," he said.

In 2002, four years after he retired, Fetisov was appointed as sports minister by Putin, who is considered a close friend. During his six-year term, he oversaw Russia's successful bid to host the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014, the first Olympic Games to be hosted in Russia since 1980. Afterward, Fetisov also served as a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Russia has been in the headlines recently after it was given a 4-year suspension from international sports competitions due to drug use. Russia may still appeal the ruling and it may get overturned.

"I hope that the punishment will not be too harsh," said Fetisov in the interview, which took place just before the ruling was announced. "There are athletes, especially young ones, who will be hurt by this.

"Every country is responsible for combating doping. Countries get a big punishment if they [don't] live up to international standards."

The Russian ice hockey legend came to Israel with his wife in November just after the escalation in the Gaza Strip and along Israel's northern border, and despite the ongoing tension between Israel and Russia regarding the situation in Syria.

"I do what I believe is right. Even my wife fell in love with your country and isn't worried," he said after being asked whether he was scared of coming.

During his visit, Fetisov arrived at a new ice skating rink in Israel to play in an exhibition game. Fetisov was not surprised by the outpouring of love and patiently agreed to all the fans' requests for selfies and autographs.

The event was attended by the Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov. Both spoke at the event.

Climate change – a unifying issue

Today Fetisov serves as the UN's environment patron for polar regions, having worked tirelessly to increase awareness of climate change. He wants to arrange a hockey game on a base near the North Pole to promote his cause. He hopes that the game, which is scheduled to take place in April 2020, will draw international attention to the urgency.

"The fight against global warming is an example of successful cooperation between Russia and the US," he said.

"Climate change affects everybody, it won't solve itself. This is the time to get together, to be united, to be one family; the time to do so is right now. The clock is ticking and politicians are not doing enough," he continued.