Myshkin, Vladimir

Sport:
ice hockey

Country Represented:
Soviet Union

Years Competed:
1980, 1984

Medals Received:
gold, bronze

Olympic Info:
Myshkin was a goaltender for the Soviet Union's ice hockey team in two Olympiads. At the 1980 Lake Placid Games, Myshkin was a backup to Soviet legend, Vladislav Tretiak, as the Red Army team steamrolled through the tournament. In the semifinals, the Soviets played the United States in the famous "Miracle on Ice" game. The U.S. team was given no chance by hockey experts, but they surprised the Soviets by taking a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.

The second goal was scored with only one second left in the period, and Tretiak was removed from the game. Myshkin skated to the net at the beginning of the second period and played the remainder of the game. The U.S. eventually won the game, and went on to capture the gold medal, while the Soviets had to settle for the bronze. Soviet coach Viktor Tikhonev was roundly criticized for removing Tretiak, but Myshkin was also a great goalie who had shutout a team of NHL All-Stars the previous year.

Myshkin returned to the Olympics at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Games as the Soviet Union's starting goalie, and his team won the gold medal.

Career Highlights:
In the late 1970s and 1980s, Myshkin was a member of the Soviet Union's Red Army team that was the best in the world. They won the gold medal at the World Championships in 1979, 1981-83, 1985, and 1989; they also won the European title those years. Myshkin had the unfortunate timing to be playing ice hockey at the same time as the legendary, Vladislav Tretiak, considered by many to be the greatest goalie in history.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. 1955

Origin:
Kirovo-Chepesk, Russia

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