Sergei Pryakhin | |||
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Born |
Moscow, Soviet Union |
December 7, 1963 ||
Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
Weight | 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb) | ||
Position | Right Wing | ||
Shot | Left | ||
Played for |
Krylya Sovetov Moscow Calgary Flames Zürcher SC Kiekko-Espoo Oji Eagles |
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National team | Soviet Union | ||
NHL Draft | 252nd overall, 1988 Calgary Flames |
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Playing career | 1980–2000 |
Medal record | ||
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Representing Soviet Union | ||
Men's ice hockey | ||
World Junior Championship | ||
1983 Soviet Union | ||
World Championship | ||
1987 Austria | ||
1990 Switzerland |
Sergei Vasilievich Pryakhin (sometimes Priakin; born December 7, 1963) is a Russian former ice hockey forward who played 20 seasons in several leagues. He is a former captain of Krylya Sovetov Moscow (Soviet Wings) of the Soviet League and is best known in North America for being the first Soviet given permission to play in the National Hockey League (NHL). He joined the Calgary Flames in 1989 and played parts of three seasons in the NHL. Pryakhin returned to Europe in 1991 where he spent three seasons in Switzerland with Zürcher SC, then four in Finland with Kiekko-Espoo. He also played with the Oji Eagles in Japan for one year before returning to Kryla for a final season before retiring in 2000.
Internationally, Pryakhin was a member of the Soviet national team. He appeared in two World Junior Championships and won a gold medal in 1983. He was a member of two World Championship teams, winning a silver medal in 1987 and gold in 1990. Pryakhin was also a member of the second place Soviet team at the 1987 Canada Cup.
Pryakhin's top level career began in 1980 when he appeared in one Soviet League for Krylya Sovetov Moscow (better known in North America as the Soviet Wings). He joined the team full-time in 1981–82 as a 17-year-old, appearing in 43 games for the Wings. Pryakhin's debut with the Soviet national team came the 1982 World Junior Hockey Championship in a fourth-place finish. He returned for the 1983 tournament and scored six points in seven games to help the Soviets win the gold medal.