Born Sergei Viktorivich Fedorov on December 13, 1969 in Pskov, USSR, to Viktor and Natasha Fedorov. He has an only brother Fedor Viktorivich Fedorov who now plays for the OHL in The Windsor Spitfires.
Sergei plays for the Detroit Red Wings today. But started out in The CSKA back in the 1980's. He was easily coach Tikhanov's favorite as he was a hard worker and highly skilled.While in Russia he was on their Soviet National Team in 1989 and 1990 he won 2 gold medals. He also was on the World Jr team in 1988 (Papa Fetisov was Captain)and went to the World Jr Championships in 1989 for Russia. His future in the CSKA seemed bright and clear.
He started out as a private in The Red Army but towards the end that he was there he was close to being named a Lieutenant in the military part of it.
His father Viktor , now a coach, urged Sergei to take any offer Tikhonov would give to him. If he were to take the position of Lieutenant he would basically be a member of The Red Army for ,at the least, 25 years. It was a steady gig. Having grown up very poor it was at least a chance to not be in that position of poverty again. But fate would rear it's head to change those arrangements.
While at an interview for a Finnish elite team, Sergei had an offer sheet handed to him from The Detroit Red Wings an NHL team based in Detroit , MI. In this sheet he was offered $250,000 plus his family ( who would for the time remain in Russia ) would also recieve $25,000. Which was a very palatable offer.
But Sergei at the time did not want to tender the offer as he felt his parents would be angry with him. A man by the name of Valery Matveev urged Fedorov to consider the offer stating that should he make Tikhonov angry there was always a chance of being exiled.
It was around this period that the events surrounding the changes that would sweep Russian hockey started to occur. Fetisov and Larionov were starting their efforts of change. Even the main Russian papers were doing exposes on the conditions in which the players had to live and endure. It was ripe for a change and maybe this was the best time for Sergei to make changes in his life and career which showed promise.
A secret meeting was then setup through various relay people. Neither Sergei nor his friends spoke a word of English so an interpreter, a photographer, was dispatched to be the spokesperson for them. It was while at this meeting that Sergei got the idea of how badly The Wings wanted to sign him. A copy of the contract was given Sergei to look at. It was while browsing it and seeing the rather sizable dollar figures that he saw how badly he was wanted by The Red Wings. The contract was very lucrative.
It was while checking into a hotel afterwards that something near disastrous developed.
See, to check into any hotel Soviet citizens must have a home address listed on their passports. Not seeing an address gives the impression of a homeless or derelict person. Russian hotels are to forbid any person who has this sort of passport registration.
Sergei's passport was not stamped as he had not signed with The Soviet Military yet. Sergei's friend Valery tried to explain that Sergei played with The Red Army , that he was indeed a star in it . Plus that he had not signed yet with the military hence no address listed.
The desk clerk hid behind policy and advised Sergei to go to the police for any assistance
Upon arrival at the police station the police officer refused to help him. He then took Sergei's passport away and threw Sergei in jail. Treating him as a common criminal.
It was then that Sergei decided to sign the sheet and leave The Red Army. He was released only after his friend Valery and a few who accompanied Valery brought some Heinekens and cigarettes to the jail as a gift to the police officer who arrested Sergei.
By the start of that year's Goodwill Games in Seattle Sergei's passport still was not stamped. So he decided to defect. Originally he was to defect after the Games. But word got around that Dimitri Khristich also was defecting. Were Dimitri to defect then the chances of another defect being successful was slim to impossible.
It was while a pre game meal was going on that the officials noted Fedorov's absence. An official was asked to go look for him . Upon entering an elevator the official found a rather nervous Sergei Fedorov.
Sergei then hands the man 500 Swiss francs and was allowed to leave untouched . He was driven to the airport where a waiting airplane was berthed. Provided by Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch.
As a player in the NHL he has garnered quite a bit of accolades! Some are the Hart Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player. He has also won the Selke trophy in 1994 and 1996, the Lester B. Pearson award in 1994, and 2 Stanley Cups back to back in 1997 and 1998 as a member of the Detroit Red Wings.
Due to a large contract signing in 1998 he is with a paycheck of $38 Mill the highest paid athlete in Michigan pro sports. He also has set up a foundation to spread that money to where it can benefit the most.
Sergei was quoted as saying he still recalled his humble beginnings and that now with having so much he has decided to give a little back. If in memory of those lean hungry years.
He has set up The Sergei Fedorov Foundation. Giving an initial $2 Mill to set it up and a pledge this season to donate to it $91 per goal that The Red Wings score this year.
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He now resides in suburban Detroit. His parents live now in Detroit as well. As does his brother Fedor who plays for a nearby team.
His interests are tennis and golf
Thanks to the following resources : Jeni owner of Sergei Fedorov Line website & Owner of 5 site thanks for letting me use his links, Carolyn for info on name and Fedor. Rachel a wealth of info on Sergei.
