The legend of world hockey and the defender ofa magnificent five of the USSR team - that's who the man who dedicated his life to sports, Alexei Kasatonov. Famous hockey player was born on October 14, 1959 in Leningrad, modern St. Petersburg. Kasatonov Alexey Viktorovich, whose height is 185 cm and 96 kg respectively, today is a member of the club "Legends of Hockey", where he participates in matches with other veterans.
How it all began
The future sportsman from a child's age was engagedswimming. After 3 years the pool was re-formed, it was necessary to go far to classes, so he went to the selection in the newly formed children's hockey team of the local meat-packing plant. Moreover, the team games at that time more attracted the boy with his competitive spirit.
By chance, Kasatonov Alexey Viktorovichmade a mistake and did not come to the ice rink, but to the stadium, where they recruited the SKA team. There the complex and great path of the sportsman began. According to the hockey player himself, he skated badly on the ice, but the first coach Oleg Sivkov saw in the child the potential and understanding of the process of the game, so he left Alexei. Thanks to hard work and dedication, the future hockey star improved his technique and got rid of shortcomings.
The athlete paid much attention to his studies. After graduation, he entered the institute, where it was difficult to study, because no one was making favors, despite his achievements.
Family hockey player
Kasatonova surrounded the sport from childhood.He lived in the same house with many well-known athletes today, among them marathon runners and coach of the basketball team "Spartak" and the Soviet national team. He watched as the national hockey team played and dreamed of becoming the same as they are. The parents of Alexey Viktorovich were born and raised in St. Petersburg, survived the blockade, as did the grandmother, who raised two sons in those hard times. Grandfather Fyodor Afanasievich was killed in 1944. Mom known hockey player played for the volleyball club "Spartacus." Together with his father, who also took up volleyball, they saw his son as a swimmer, but fate decreed otherwise and very well. Thanks to diligence, great work and, undoubtedly, talent, one of the legendary hockey players became Kasatonov Alexey Viktorovich. Family athlete - son Leonid and wife Jeanne - always and in everything support the legendary athlete. With his wife Jeanne Kasatonov met in the early 80's, and in 1983 a wedding took place. In the same year the hockey player became a father.
Professional Path
Serious work and career of the talentedhockey player started with the SKA team in Leningrad. Kasatonov played in the youth league, where he managed to become a champion, and then in the youth team of the Soviet Union. In SKA spent 2 years, and then moved to CSKA Moscow, where a young guy was hit by difficult everyday life and strong physical activity. Tikhonov as a coach was strict and demanding, but Kasatonova was entrusted to the patronage of veterans of the club - Kharlamov and Tsygankov. The hockey player worked days and nights to achieve positive results, while other experienced team members were an example of courage and hard work for him. A solid team and grandiose efforts on themselves made Kasatonov what he is now. Then he met there, in Moscow, with his future wife.
Magnificent five
In 1981, Alexei Viktorovich was placed indefense together with Vyacheslav Fetisov in the Cup of Canada. In the attack were Sergei Makarov, Vladimir Krutov and Igor Larionov. So the legendary five of the USSR and CSKA team appeared.
Rapid rise in CSKA
At this time, the career of a hockey player is swiftsoared upwards. For the entire time of the game in the national team, Alexei Kasatonov won twice at the Olympic Games and became a five-time world champion, the winner of the Canadian Cup. In such a famous composition, the five held out until the late 80's. There was an incident with Viktor Vasilyevich Tikhonov, when Kasatonov supported the authoritarian, in the opinion of the rest, the coach, because of what he ruined friendly relations with hockey players and for a long time did not communicate with them. Fetisova with Kasatonov put in defense in the NHL, but they did not even talk. At the moment, the old grievances are forgotten, and communication between the talented players again recovered.
Career and activities away from home
After the release of the player from the club CSKA started itcareer abroad. He played in the club "New Jersey Devils", in 1994 he began cooperation with "Boston-Bruins". I played in St. Louis. In New York, organized a children's school of hockey, which was called "Red Penguins", and also played in charity matches with veterans. In 1996, Kasatonov Alexey Viktorovich returned to CSKA, which was led by Tikhonov and played for the club for another year, after which he completed his career as a hockey player.
After returning to his homeland Kasatonov wascoach of the Moscow club "Lynx" and "Wings of the Soviets" in Podolsk. In 2011 he worked as a manager in SKA in St. Petersburg. In the Russian national team was also general manager until 2014. Now he performs in the veterans' club "Legends of Hockey". March 16, 2016 Tretiak Vladislav Alexandrovich and Kasatonov Alexey Viktorovich, photos of which appeared on the network, opened the stele of the countdown before the start of the 2016 World Cup.
Awards and achievements of Honored Master of Sports
Kasatonov became a well-deserved defender of the youththe World Cup in 1979, the best defender of the 1983 World Cup. As part of CSKA Moscow and the Soviet Union, Alexei Kasatonov twice became the champion of the Olympic Games and five times the World Championships, repeatedly won the championship at European championships. One of his most striking victories was the Canadian Cup in 1981.
Kasatonov was awarded the Order: "For Service to the Fatherland", the Order of Honor, the "Labor Red Banner." In 2006 he was introduced to the IIHF Hall of Fame. Athlete 9 times in the list of the best players in the USSR.
Kasatonov Alexey Viktorovich, whose biographymarked by great achievements and merits, by right should be proud of his career. For many, he is an example of a man you want to be like. With his courage, hard work and hard work, he achieved success and remained a wonderful man, whom professional sports did not break, but formed and tempered.
