Vladimir Shadrin, the Russian centreman who starred on some of the most powerful Soviet squads of the 1970’s, today passed away in Moscow from COVID-19 complications at the age of 73.
Coming up in Spartak Moscow’s junior system, Shadrin would spend his entire fifteen season Soviet career with the Red & Whites, capturing Soviet Championships in 1967, 1969 and 1976 and helping break the stranglehold that CSKA Moscow held on the league, notching 214 goals and 301 points in 425 league games. Shadrin would make a surprising move in 1979, leaving Spartak to head to Japan, where he spent his final four pro seasons with Oji Seishi, winning league titles in 1982 and 1983. He would return in a staff capacity to Spartak, spending one season as an assistant coach in 1984-85, and serving as Vice President of Hockey Operations from 2004-10.
Debuting for the national team in 1968, Shadrin debuted at the World Championship in 1970, his first of eight straight appearances, in which he captured five Gold Medals (1970-71, 1973-75), two Silver Medals (1972, 1976) and a Bronze (1977), in addition to Olympic appearances in 1972 and 1976, which netted him Gold at both appearances. Shadrin was also a key member of the Soviet squad at both the 1972 and 1974 Summit Series, finishing second in team scoring at the former and winning at the latter tournament, and would capture six Izvestia Trophies (1968-69, 1971-73, 1975), the predecessor of today’s Channel One Cup.
Our condolences go out to the Shadrin family, as well as the extended hockey community across Russia, on the sudden death of this dynastic international hockey star.
International Hockey Lineal Championship 