Igor Larionov Recalls "The Miracle on Ice" // SiriusXM // SiriusXM Sports Zone FEB 2014

[@leo29hornsfan]

This man is a legend in the hockey community and even the Americans love him. He definitely had a great NHL carrier and was thankful for the opportunity to do it. He said he wished that he could have played in the league way sooner.

[@twiztinupblunts4031]

We do love him. He's a great person and a great player. Americans like Russsian people. Idk if the feelings mutual but whatever. We're cool with them

[@TheReginaldDwight]

I was definitely a fan of Igor Larionov the hockey player. I think I am an even bigger fan of Igor Larionov the fine gentleman.

[@karateman2180]

We was a legend, I was lucky to watch him when the Sharks had Makarov and Larionov, 2/3's of the KLM

[@ozpan5540]

Igor Larionov. Pure class off and on the ice

[@Senaleb]

Larionov is my favorite player of all time, just because as a kid we got the San Jose Sharks new team and watching him skate was magical.

[@adamdesanti6713]

I understand they were a 3rd year expansion team when they signed Larionov and went from like 39 points to 92, the biggest jump ever. Then upset the hugely favoured Detroit in the first round in 1994. Purely because of their own "Russian Five" unit of Larionov, Makarov, Garpenlov, Ozolinsh and Norton. With an underrated Artus Irbe in net.

[@adamdesanti6713]

Igor Larionov is a legend. His life-long journey as a hockey player and as a man I found to be absolutely extraordinary. It's an epic. I learned of much of it from the great hockey book "The Russian Five". He was basically the Russian Gretzky of the 80's KLM line. Tremendous vision and hockey IQ. He payed tremendous dues in the old Soviet system from his childhood until they finally released him when he was 30. Sovietsport taxed his NHL salary for several years, which they couldn't do with the 2nd wave of straight defectors. Finally earned his financial freedom and then was the cornerstone of the remarkable puck-possession "Russian Five" lines in San Jose and then Detroit. Played at a high level well into his 40's. A humble, modest, intelligent, insightful, family man of the utmost integrity. He got the respect of everyone he ever came across.

[@Zapatos-xg2yb]

Igor is the man. One of my favorite players to watch, so cerebral, such a smart player. Glad he won a few cups with the Red Wings.

[@Lawomenshoops]

He always makes a distinction between Russian and Soviet! Post 1990ish, it's Russian. 1980's it's the Soviets.

[@Lawomenshoops]

I remember reading a story about when Igor first arrived in Vancouver. The wife of another Canucks player took Igor’s wife grocery shopping. Igor’s wife filled her cart up with meats. The other player’s wife, told her that she didn’t need to fill up her cart with meat. There would be plenty there tomorrow and the next day and the next week. Obviously, she came from Soviet Russia, where there were shortages of just basic groceries.So she didn’t know any better.

[@Pfsif]

"The Professor" :)

[@jasonharper3334]

Thank you for doing this interview in English

[@yobrant]

Igor is a class act.

[@roberthudson1959]

Background: international sport is war without death, and this was particularly true from 1945-90. The USSR had a military service requirement, and soldiers who were outstanding athletes were offered commissions. The vast majority of the national team, including the coach, came from the Central Army hockey team. Like most soldiers, they trained together 11 months a year.

[@lukebruce5234]

Usually about 50% of the players came from CSKA ,not the "vast majority".

[@Lawomenshoops]

Igor says he was too young to make the 1980 team. But, Krutov is only six MONTHS older, and he made the team!

[@amandine2239]

He was also from another team. The CSKA was favoured I guess

[@KMK7355]

Krutov was a winger and there was 8 spots open. Larionov was a center and just 4 spots open and he had Petrov, Zhlutkov and Golikov absolutely ahead of him. I think the other Golikov was ahead of him also.

[@Lawomenshoops]

@@KMK7355 krutov was a left winger, so only 3 spots for him too. He wasn’t going to replace Boris.

[@amusement420]

Some people in the US really thought the Russian team was going to be sent to Siberia lol That’s what Russian coaches would say to the Red Army team if they tried to defect. I would have asked him did the Herb Brooks and the Americans win or did the Russians lose? But his comment about Brooks and the US seeing a huge opportunity with Tretiak being pulled kind of answered that.

[@mholtebeck]

Pulling Tretiak would be pulling Brady in 1st quarter in 2018.

[@KMK7355]

Not really, Brady dominates the offense and Tretiak is strictly defensive.

[@KMK7355]

Soviets were extremely green on D at Lake Placid in 1980. Fetisov, Starikov and Kasatonov were 22,21 and 20 years old.

[@Salvatore1268]

I remember when Igor got Peter Forsberg good

[@tomcusack884]

The Soviet hockey players were more amused than disgusted by the American victory. They outplayed the USA squad, outshot them 39-16, dominated puck possession and scoring chances, but Lady Luck was sitting on the Americans bench. The Soviets played cold-hearted, methodical, machine-style hockey---emotionless, unfeeling, close to non-human. Watching the wild celebration by a bunch of kids, some who barely shaved, had an effect on the Russians. They knew something was wrong...and it was. It was far more than a hockey game. The long-suffering Russians began the change.....

[@markserour9115]

Who is the interviewer?

[@bookemdanno5596]

Alyonka Larionov, Igor's Daughter.

[@jimwade7680]

Mark Serour shes hot

[@adriancano5403]

His daughter

[@dc1397]

@@bookemdanno5596 would it be larionova?

[@godhere6459]

a girl.

[@bobgibson4913]

Igor Larionov is definitely an Ice Hockey expert but I do disagree with one thing He said about the 1980 loss to the U.S. Team. I think too much is made about Tikhonov pulling out Tretiak after the First Period in their Game against Team USA. That Olympic Year Tretiak was in a major Goaltending slump and was not Playing well at all. He also Played Poorly against other Teams during the 1980 Winter Olympics.

[@atrholiday2889]

Bob Gibson I totally agree. Tretiak gave up 4 goals in the olympics to Canada and the Netherlands but still ended up winning big. Reason would’ve suggested that 4 goals from the US wouldn’t be nearly enough. Also it’s worth noting that the two goals scored against the backup- Myshkin, weren’t even his fault. The first one took a freak bounce off a Soviet player’s skate which Johnson knocked in before Myshkin could react, and he was also screened by his own player on Eruzione’s game winner

[@grumpypoof9648]

@@atrholiday2889 Didn't the Soviets actually lose a game prior to the U.S in those games?

[@KMK7355]

No, the USA was only team to beat them. They needed comebacks against Finland and Canada tgough.

[@twiztinupblunts4031]

Alex Ovechkin and Igor Larionov are my favorite hockey players. Nick Backstrom reminds me a lot of Larionov though.... Backstrom is just garbo at faceoffs, especially compared to Larionov.

[@cryptohalloffame]

the USA team was in better condition, and they were superstars, because Herb Brooks helped them reach that level, so there was nothing the soviets could do, they would have lost with Tretiak in net

[@KMK7355]

Seven game series Soviets probably win series 4-1.

[@cryptohalloffame]

@@KMK7355 maybe, but it was about winning 1 game, not 4