VanIslander
A 19-year ATDer on HfBoards
Maine selects Viktor Konovalenko, the 7-time Soviet all star, winning every Olympics and world championships from 1963 to his tourney MVP 1970, except for 1969 when he missed the train to Moscow so couldn't get to the tourney. He was selected as 3rd among all Soviets in 1968, 1st in 1970 and 7th in 1971 in national MVP voting. His 42-2-3 international record is staggering, one of his two losses haunted him as he, as a rookie, decided to experiment with rushing the breakaway attack, only to have a Swede skate around and score the winner. He never went out so far ever again. He was widely touted as a great presence in training camp and the locker room, and he mentored Tretiak and Tretiak often gushes about it. Konovalenko is a member of the IIHF hall of fame.
Kings of the Ice said:During an attack on his goal, he moved like a boxer, using swift and polished movements. Mentally agile and resourceful, he would spring between goalposts as easily and smoothly as a cat.
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