NOTE: All quotes were said on June 18, 1998, in interviews from the Detroit Free Press’ Jason La Canfora.
VLADDIE: The Man Who Inspired the Entire Red Wings Team
Vladimir has a very supportive and loving wife, Irina, who has been and will always stick by his throughout his ordeal. He also has two daughters (I think) who I am sure give him even more inspiration to recover. Vladdie has back to back Stanley Cups.
The Red Wings got him on April 3, 1995, from New Jersey. The Wings were lucky to obtain such a great player with a height of 6 feet one inch and a weight of 215 pounds. He shoots left and is a former Central Red Army player.
Slava has many accomplishments including being the longtime captain of the Central Red Army team. There, he also won the “Honored Masters of Sport” Award (which is the equivalent of the Hockey Hall of Fame), Soviet Player of Year in 1982, 1986, and 1988. He was a Soviet League All-Star nine times and won the Pravda Trophy four times (for being the top-scoring defenseman of the league). If that was not enough, he has also won three Olympics Medals: a silver medal in 1980, and two gold medals (one in 1984 and the other in 1988). To top it off, he has won back to back Stanley Cups with the Wings.
He said, “When we saw Vladdie for the first time, it was the happiest we had seen him all year. It was a great, great moment. The fans were unbelievable on both sides, Washington and especially fans from Detroit. It’s a special thing. It’s not just a hockey thing. It is probably more than tat. We can show the rest of the world it’s not only a hockey team, it’s something else.”
Bob has a wife, Diane, a son, Torrey, and a daughter, Calli. In his free time, he goes on the computer, golfs, fishes, and plays in Red Wings charity softball games.
He said, “Last year there was so much pressure with the 42-year thing. This year it was win it for the fun of it. Last year was cut short by the accident. This time we’re going to celebrate right.”
Nicklas has a wife, Annika, and two sons, Kevin and Adam. He and his family spend the off-season in Vasteras, Sweden. Nicklas enjoys tennis and golf. He also played soccer in high school. He is still a young player and will someday prove to be one of the best.
He said, “It’s a big relief. There was pressure to do something great again. It feels sweeter. Last year was the fist Cup in forty-two years. I feel this one was tougher to win.”
He too, was on the Central Red Army team. Igor has a wife, Elena (former Soviet figure skater Elena Botanova) and two daughters, Alyonka and Dianna. During the off-season, he enjoys playing tennis, soccer, and Red Wings charity softball games.
Slava is single and plays in Red Wings charity softball games in off-season. He is another young player and will prove to be a leader later on.
Shanny is also single. He said, “This is the most unselfish group of guys I’ve ever played with. When we come down to score a goal, we all want to do it. When it comes time to lie down and block a shot, we all want to do it. The last time I saw the cup last summer, I kissed it and laid it in the box and said, ‘Until we meet again.’ This year when I got it, I kissed it and said, ‘We meet again.’”
He may not be big, but he can still perform quite well. Doug’s height is five feet ten and he weighs 180 pounds. He plays right wing and shoots right. The Wings acquired him on January 18, 1995, in the NHL Waiver Draft.
Doug enjoys playing golf and tennis. His brother, Greg, also plays in the NHL. Doug and his wife, Maureen, have two daughters, Anna and Kaitlin, and two sons, Patrick and Christopher.
He said, “It doesn’t matter who gets points as long as we win. That’s what’s special about this team.”
Kirk is single and enjoys softball.
Steve may not be the biggest man on the ice at five feet eleven inches and 185 pounds, but he can still play better than most. He plays center and shoots right. Steve is another one of my favorite players.
Steve has a wife, and two daughters, Isabella and the younger one. He enjoys playing golf, squash, racquetball, and tennis.
Martin stands at five feet eleven and 215 pounds and is still young enough to improve his skills to that to one of the greats. He is also a selfless player, “I'd rather change my role and have the team win instead of being a one-man show,” said LaPointe.
Martin has a wife, Tania, and a son, Guyot. He enjoys tennis, squash, and weightlifting.
Mike said, “It’s not just about this year. I started skating when I was five. It’s twenty years of hard work and ups and downs, and the hard work paid off. The odds are so stacked against you, to be sitting here and it’s not just your first Stanley Cup but your second. I almost feel like a spoiled brat.”
Darren and his wife, Cheryl, have a son Griffin. He has been honored by Royal Canadian Mounted Police for helping juvenile drug prevention programs and is also active with the Make-a-Wish Foundation. In the off-season, Darren enjoys playing golf and participating in Red Wings charity softball games.
He said, “It’s great to have your family here and sharing things. And with all the Wings fans here. It’s great to share. When Steve passed the Cup to Vladdie, that’s what it was all about. We plan to celebrate more than six days this summer.”
Joey enjoys golf (I heard he was quite good), fishing, country music (Garth Brooks and the group Alabama), and the Michigan Wolverines. He is also has a wife, Kristen; a daughter, Kendall; and a golden retriever, Molson.
He said, “With all the turmoil that happened, to win it for Vladdie and Sergei was out goal all year. To accomplish it is incredible.”
Aaron is a six feet two, 200-pound defenseman. He shoots right.
Since he is only five feet ten, and 168 pounds, he is quick, agile, and has awesome reflexes. In the 96-97 Season, Ozzie was sixth in the NHL of goals-against average, he tied third in the NHL in shutouts, and he was a finalist for the 1996 Vezina Trophy. Ozzie has even scored a goal.
Even when the media is tough on Ozzie, most of his fans stick by him. After a loss, the crowd will still chant, “Ozzie! Ozzie! Ozzie!”
Chris is single and enjoys playing golf and tennis.
Kris is single and enjoys golf and mountain biking. After winning the cup he said, “The greatest feeling was seeing Vladdie with the Cup on the ice. It’s great to be associated with classy guys and a classy organization.”
Currently, Larry, ranks only fourth behind Coffey, Bourque, and Potvin in career points (1045) among NHL defensemen (with 1,045 points). He also ranks third in assists (793) among NHL defenseman with 793. In his rookie year with the Kings, Murphy set two NHL records among rookie defensemen with 76 points and 60 assists. He was also the runner-up for NHL Rookie of the Year. On March 27, 1996, with Vancouver, Murphy became the fourth defenseman (45th player overall) in NHL history to reach 1000 career points.
Murphy is married and has two daughters and a son.
Although this six foot one, 200-pound center did not play the entire season (due to a contract dispute) he was still a key player this year, especially in the playoffs. He is known for his strength, ability to handle the puck and shoot, and his speed.
Sergei is dating a sixteen-year old tennis player from Russia. The last that I heard, he is going to wait until she is eighteen then bring her to America and get married. He enjoys tennis, golf, traveling, and boating.
He said, “This is the greatest that we’re now on top of things again. For a while, I never though we would make it here again. But we did, and it feels great obviously. When we saw Vladdie on the ice, I couldn’t believe my eyes. We have the Stanley Cup in one mind and Vladdie on the other.”
ANDERS ERIKSSON
Defenseman
Height: 6-3
Weight: 218
Acquired in 93, twenty-second overall
BRENT GILCHRIST
Left wing
Height: 5-11
Weight: 180
Acquired in 97 as free agent
KEVIN HODSON
Goaltender
Height: 6-0
Weight: 182
Acquired on June 16, 93 as free agent
JAMIE MACOUN
Defenseman
Height: 6-2
Weight: 196
Acquired on March 24, 1998 from Toronto
DMITRI MIRONOV
Defenseman
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215
Acquired on March 24, 1998 from Anaheim
Have you tried The Teams Companion?
|
|
|
Copyright © 1997-98 King Arthur
