Anatoli Firsov
| Anatoli Firsov | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Anatoli Firsov on a 2013 Russian stamp from the series "Sports Legends" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
1 February 1941 Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died |
24 July 2000 (aged 59) Moscow, Russia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 154 lb (70 kg; 11 st 0 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Left wing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shot | Right | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Played for |
Spartak Moscow CSKA Moscow | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | Soviet Union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1959–1974 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Anatoli Vasilievich Firsov (Russian: Анатолий Васильевич Фирсов; 1 February 1941 – 24 July 2000) was a Russian ice hockey left wing and center, who competed internationally for the USSR. In the IIHF World Championships, he won the scoring title four times and was named the best forward three times. He was also named the most valuable player in the Soviet hockey league three times. Between 1964 and 1972, Firsov played 166 games for the national team. He scored 134 goals, and won three Olympic and eight world titles.
Firsov played in HC CSKA Moscow. He eventually would become one of the best forwards in Soviet hockey. Despite this he would not participate in the 1972 Summit Series against Canada. Many believe this was a result of Anatoli Tarasov's exclusion from the coaching staff.
In 1972, while still playing for CSKA Moscow, Firsov began working as an assistant coach for the club. Between 1976 and 77 he was the head coach of the Soviet junior team, which won a bronze medal at the 1977 World Championship. From 1977 and until his death he worked as a children's hockey coach. In 1989, Firsov was elected to the Congress of People's Deputies, running on a policy of improving health conditions and sporting facilities. In 1998, he was inducted to the IIHF Hall of Fame. Firsov died in 2000 at the age of 59.