Sergei Pryakhin (ice hockey) explained

Played For:Krylya Sovetov Moscow
Calgary Flames
Zürcher SC
Kiekko-Espoo
Oji Eagles
Position:Right Wing
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:209
Ntl Team:URS
Birth Date:7 December 1963
Birth Place:Moscow, Soviet Union
Draft:252nd overall
Draft Year:1988
Draft Team:Calgary Flames
Career Start:1980
Career End:2000

Sergei Vasilievich Pryakhin (sometimes Priakin; Russian: Сергей Васильевич Пряхин; 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 was the first Soviet hockey player permitted to play in the National Hockey League (NHL), and the second Soviet player to appear in an NHL game, following Victor Nechayev. 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.

Playing career

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.[1]

A mid-level player on both the Wings and the national team,[2] Pryakhin's best seasons in the Soviet league came in 1983–84 when he scored 18 goals, and 1986–87 when he had 32 points. He ultimately rose to become captain of the Wings.[3] He was a member of a Soviet squad that won a silver medal at the 1987 World Championship and finished as runners-up to Canada at the 1987 Canada Cup.

The National Hockey League (NHL)'s Calgary Flames, anticipating that it would be easier to convince the Soviet Hockey Federation to release a non-star member of their national team to play in North America, opted to select Pryakhin with the 252nd, and last, pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. The Soviets began negotiations with the Flames in February 1989, and he signed a contract with Calgary on March 29. He became the first Soviet player permitted by his national federation to play in the NHL. Pryakhin made his NHL debut on March 31 against the Winnipeg Jets.[4] He was the second Soviet player to appear in an NHL game, following Victor Nechayev.[5] Pryahkin appeared in the Flames' final two games of the regular season, and one game of the 1989 playoffs as the Flames went on to win the Stanley Cup. He did not play enough games or in the finals so his name was left off the Cup. Calgary did give Pryakhin a Stanley Cup ring and included him in the team picture.

Pryahkin scored his first NHL goal on October 10, 1989, against the New Jersey Devils. He appeared in 20 games with the Flames in 1989–90 and scored 2 goals and 4 points. He added 1 goal and 6 assists in 24 games in 1990–91 and made appearances with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, Calgary's International Hockey League affiliate in both seasons. Internationally, Pryahkin appeared in three games and won a gold medal with the Soviet team at the 1990 World Championship.

Returning to Europe in 1991–92, Pryahkin joined Zürcher SC of the Swiss top division. He was a member of the team for three seasons, splitting 1992–93 with Krylya Sovetov in his Russian home, before moving on to the Finnish SM-liiga for four seasons with Kiekko-Espoo. Pryahkin spent a season in Japan in 1998–99 before closing out his career with Krylya Sovetov in the Russian second division in 2000.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1979–80Krylya Sovetov MoscowSoviet10000
1980–81Krylya Sovetov MoscowSoviet10000
1981–82Krylya Sovetov MoscowSoviet4345923
1982–83Krylya Sovetov MoscowSoviet351192018
1983–84Krylya Sovetov MoscowSoviet4418133124
1984–85Krylya Sovetov MoscowSoviet321492310
1985–86Krylya Sovetov MoscowSoviet3912132516
1986–87Krylya Sovetov MoscowSoviet4012203218
1987–88Krylya Sovetov MoscowSoviet4410152516
1988–89Krylya Sovetov MoscowSoviet4411152623
1988–89Calgary FlamesNHL2000210000
1989–90Calgary FlamesNHL20224020000
1989–90Salt Lake Golden EaglesIHL31010
1990–91Calgary FlamesNHL241670
1990–91Salt Lake Golden EaglesIHL18512172
1991–92Zürcher SCNDA422125462474482
1992–93Krylya Sovetov MoscowRUS2044810
1992–93Zürcher SCNDA23125171242134
1993–94Zürcher SCNDA2919153420
1994–95Kiekko-EspooSM-l501320334941450
1995–96Kiekko-EspooSM-l499243353
1996–97Kiekko-EspooSM-l501525405340002
1997–98Kiekko-EspooSM-l461124352483360
1998–99Oji EaglesJPN1961016
1999–2000Krylya Sovetov MoscowRUS II2345914
Soviet totals34396103199158
NHL totals463811230000
SM-l totals19548931411791647112

International

YearTeamEventResult GPGAPtsPIM
1981Soviet UnionEJC54264
1982Soviet UnionWJC4th72134
1983Soviet UnionWJC724613
1987Soviet UnionWC80228
1987Soviet UnionCC2nd90226
1990Soviet UnionWC30112
Junior totals19871521
Senior totals2005516

Notes and References

  1. Book: Podnieks . Andrew . IIHF Guide & Record Book 2012 . 2011 . International Ice Hockey Federation . 978-0-7710-9598-6 . 508.
  2. News: Mifflin . Lawrie . N.H.L. team signs first Soviet player, and he's a surprise . New York Times . 1989-03-30 . 2013-07-27.
  3. Cotton . Crosbie . A red-letter day . Sports Illustrated . 1989-04-10 . 2013-07-27.
  4. News: Duhatschek . Eric . Priakin loves playing in 'Dome . Calgary Herald . 1989-04-01 . G1.
  5. Book: Halls . Pat . 1990–91 Calgary Flames Media Guide . Calgary Flames Hockey Club . 1990.