Pavel Patera

A lot of people are making a big deal about old man Jaromir Jagr playing in his 5th Olympic Games at Sochi 2014. Sure, he is 41, but he is a true legendary superstar after all.

But did you know that Jagr isn't even the oldest player on the Czech Republic team? Both Martin Rucinsky and Pavel Patera are 42!

All three were members of the Czech Republic's 1998 gold medal team. Jagr and Rucinsky were regular NHLers. Patera didn't last nearly as long - playing just 32 games over two seasons, one with Dallas and one with Minnesota.

"There are a lot of mental obstacles for him," said Craig Button, then the Stars director of player personnel. "It takes time and you can't speed it up."

But the Stars scouting staff liked him a lot. They drafted him following the Olympics, thanks largely to the advice of former NHLer Jiri Hrdina.

"He's a quiet leader who scores the big goals," Hrdina said, who also acted as Patera's translator in Dallas. "He's a very skilled offensive player who sees the puck very well. His teammates will be surprised he finds them with his passes."

The whole organization saw potential.

"He's not a dazzling player. He just makes smart plays," Stars chief amateur scout Tim Bernhardt said. "He has great knowledge of the game and the ability to read the ice. We see him as a third-line player, but maybe more if he can really adjust."

He was talented enough to play many years in the NHL, but he did not make the adjustment to North American life very well, neither on and off the ice. On the ice Patera struggled with the heavy physical demands of the NHL regular season. He also played a foreign position defensively. In Czech hockey the center was expected to stay high, but in Dallas he was expected to be first in on the forecheck. Off the ice he struggled with the language.

"I'm getting a lot of help from the other players, but I feel I will be able to communicate in English with them in three or four months," Patera said at training camp. "Mike Keane has helped me the most. He just explains things, and talks slowly to me."

After being a star in Europe, Patera really wanted to test his game in the best league in the world. Coach Ken Hitchcock gave him a vote of confidence early by playing him on a line with the great shooter Brett Hull.

"I never dreamed I would be on a line with Brett Hull and Mike Keane," Patera said. "It didn't just happen that this team won the Stanley Cup. This is a team of great players, and I know it's going to be tough to crack the lineup. This is another challenge for me in my hockey life."

"We're going to have to complement him with people who are able to read off of his vision," Hitchcock said. "If you just have grinders who don't read off his vision, then I think you're not going to accomplish the things you can with this player."

But Patera never clicked with Hull, and never did find chemistry with anyone else. After 12 games and 1 goal, he left to finish the season back in the Czech league.

He came back to the NHL the following year, now with Minnesota thanks to an off-season trade. His stint in Minny wasn't much better - 20 games and one more goal, with the rest of the season spent in the minor leagues.

Pavel Patera headed back overseas after that. First he went to Russia to play in the KHL and then he returned home to play for many more seasons in his hometown of Kladno.

Stephen Foyn

This is Stephen Foyn, a Swedish born Norwegian hockey legend. In addition to starring with club team Sparta, Foyn played with Norway at the 1980, 1984 and 1988 Olympics as well as 3 World Championships.

Foyn scored 6 goals in 16 games at the various Olympics. Norway was never much of a hockey power, so it makes Foyn's goal against Canada in 1984 a real highlight. It was Norway's only goal in an 8-1 loss.

In fact, it was the last goal scored by Norway against Canada in the Olympics. In 30 years since, they have yet to score again.

Norway will try again on February 13th, 2014 in Sochi.

Del St. John

Adelbert St. John - Del to all who knew him - is a legend of hockey in Austria. Hey, what more can a kid from Pincher Creek, Alberta ever dream of?

Del was born in Pincher Creek (some sources say it was Westlock) on October 6th, 1931. He played junior hockey in Edmonton with Oil Kings and went on to a professional career in the minor league circuit for the 1953-54 season, bouncing around from places like Johnstown, Louisville, Toledo and Milwaukee.

The minor league life must not have been to the liking of the pint-sized St. John. There is no statistical record of him playing anywhere for the '54-55 season. Then in 1956 he headed overseas to embark on a long professional career before it was all that common for Canadians to do so.

The first three seasons he jumped around, trying out Britain then Holland then Italy. In 1960 he moved to Austria and he never left.

St. John played 20 more seasons in Austria, retiring in 1980 at the age of 49. Twice he represented Austria at the Olympics, and six times he led the nation at the World Championships (albeit it was at B and C pool levels).

Del St. John passed away at the age of 79 in Klagenfurt, Austria.

Anatoli Tarasov

Anatoli Vladimirovitch Tarasov is regarded as the architect of the Soviet Union's powerful hockey empire. Yet he alienated the Soviet hockey higher-ups enough to land him in hot water several times, including for the 1972 Summit Series.

Tarasov was a product of Soviet hockey himself. He was a workmanlike winger who was overshadowed by the flashy Vsevolod Bobrov. Tarasov lacked Bobrov's natural skill, but made up for with an incredible understanding of the game and a willingness to experiment. 

The two would continue their mostly friendly rivalry for years off the ice as well. Both became successful head coaches. Tarasov coached his country's national team to nine straight world amateur championships and three consecutive Olympic titles before he retired after his team's gold win at Sapporo in 1972. He was the undisputed king of Soviet hockey until he was abruptly unseated shortly after the 1972 Olympic win and shortly before the 1972 Summit Series showdown with the Canadians. He was replaced by Bobrov.

But why?

According to Lawrence Martin's book The Red Machine, the final straw was a rivalry between Tarasov and the political bosses he answered to. Tarasov, with a history of insubordination if he felt it was beneficial for the team, clashed with the head of the Soviet Sports Committee, specifically a fellow named Mr. Pavlov, over money accepted from the Japanese. The Japanese offered Soviet players $200 a piece to play 2 exhibition games prior to the Olympics. This of course was very unacceptable in the Communist world and in the thinly veiled amateur sports world. Pavlov, who was closely monitored by the Kremlin, was furious.

Following the Olympics Tarasov, and his national team assistant coach Arkady Chernyshov, asked for time off to rest from the rigours of coaching. Pavlov agreed, but gave them both a permanent break. In essence they were fired from the national team. Tarasov was replaced by the skating legend Bobrov behind the bench.

Initially it looked like a bad move for the Soviets. Bobrov led them to the silver medal in the World Championships. For most nations that would be a major accomplishment but that marked the first time the Soviets had finished without the gold in a decade. To make matters worse key players  Anatoli Firsov and Vitaly Davydov protested by not playing for the national team.

Bobrov ultimately wouldn't last long. He relaxed the stringent and rigid game Tarasov had preached and was so successful with. The players quickly grew to appreciate the freedom and responsibility, and it showed in the performance at the 1972 Summit Series. However the political bosses would favour a young up and coming coach named Viktor Tikhonov.

Tarasov seemingly disappeared from hockey after his dismissal. He continued to coach the Red Army club team until 1974 and supervised the Soviet Gold Puck tournament for boys. More than 1,000,000 youngsters were registered for the various youth competitions. 

Tarasov also travelled the world attending seminars and making personal appearances. In 1987 he served as a coaching consultant to the NHL's Vancouver Canucks during training camp.

Ferdinand "Pic" Cattini

This is Ferdinand "Pic" Cattini. He teamed with his brother Hans "Joe" Cattini and Swiss hockey legend Bibi Torriani to lead HC Davos and the Swiss national team for the better part of the 1930s and 1940s.

Pic, considered to be the most personable of the three, was said to be an elegant player with great anticipation for the game. He and his brother were considered to be the most "Canadian" styled players in Europe in these early days.

Pic scored 87 goals in 107 games with the national team. The brothers' greatest accomplishments was helping Switzerland win gold at the home Olympics in St. Moritz in 1948.

The Cattini brothers were electricians by trade. Pic later operated a hotel in Davos, but died at the age of 52 in 1969.

Hans "Joe" Cattini

This is Hans "Joe" Cattini. Together with brother Ferdinand (aka Pic) he formed a line with Bibi Torriani, generally regarded as the early legend of hockey in Switzerland. The trio led HC Davos to 18 league championships and the starring role on the national team.

"Joe," who doubled as an electrician, was the most underrated of the three. He did switch to defense towards the end of his career, dulling his statistical output. In 111 games with the national team he scored 54 goals.

Inducted to the IIHF hockey Hall of Fame in 1998, Cattini's greatest accomplishment was helping Switzerland capture the bronze medal at the home Olympics in St. Moritz in 1948.

The Cattini brothers were considered to be very "Canadian" in their style of hockey.

Uli Poltera

Ulrich "Uli" Poltera (sometimes known as Ueli) was the older brother of Geb Poltera and cousin of Hans-Martin Trepp. 

The three grew up playing the game as a youngsters and went on to lead EHC Arosa to seven consecutive Swiss championships in the 1950s. he also was a mainstay on the Swiss national team, serving as captain at times and scoring 112 goals in 111 games.

Hockey researcher Patrick Houda described Uli as an "unpredictable player who caused a lot of trouble for opposing defensemen with his shifty moves and criss-crossing.|

Uli Poltera passed away at a hospital in Chur, Switzerland on March 22, 1994.

Hans-Martin Trepp

He was a hair dresser by trade but a sportsman by heart. Hans-Martin Trepp was said to be an excellent skier as well as a golfer and tennis player. But he was best known as a hockey player. 

Born November 9, 1922 in Arosa, Switzerland, he grew up playing the game with cousins Gebi and Ueli Poltera. The trio would play together through childhood and as pros with EHC Arosa and of course on the national team. The trio led Arosa to seven consecutive league titles. Trepp represented Switzerland 94 times.

An elegant and speedy skater and clever stickhandler, Trepp was a showman who, unlike his cousins, could be accused of playing too individually at times.

Hans-Martin Trepp died as a result of a skull fracture when he fell down from the stairs at his home. he passed on August 17, 1970.

Gebi Poltera

Gebhard "Gebi" Poltéra was born on December 14, 1923, in Arosa, Switzerland. He grew up by an outdoor rink where he learned the game alongside his brother Ueli and his cousin Hans-Martin Trepp. It was the beginning of a legendary line for EHC Arosa, a top team in Switzerland until the 1980s. And of course he was a mainstay on the national team.
The trio was the answer to the line of archrivals HC Davos with IIHF Hall of Famers Bibi Torriani and the Cattini brothers, Ferdinand and Hans. It was an epic though friendly rivalry. Poltéra debuted in the top league in 1939 as a 16-year-old and won seven consecutive championships (1951-1957) with EHC Arosa. 

Poltéra had 108 international appearances and scored 98 goals. He played in two Olympic Games and six World Championships. His résumé includes a bronze medal at the 1948 Olympics on home ice in St. Moritz. He also won bronze in three World Championships.
Poltéra played until 1965 when a wrist injury forced him off the ice. He briefly tried coaching before starting a successful career as an interior decorator. 

Karel Gut

Karel Gut passed away today, January 6th, 2014. He was 86.

Gut was an offensively talented defenseman who was voted as the best defenseman at the 1955 World Championships. Often paired with Frantisek Tikal, he was a mainstay on the Czechoslovakian national team throughout the 1950s. He represented his country in 114 matches (scoring 34 goals) and served as team captain from 1952-1960.

Gut was better known to western audiences as a very successful national team coach from 1973 through 1979, winning world titles in 1976 and '77 and a silver medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck.

Gut is a member of both the Czech and IIHF Hockey Hall of Fame.

Constantine "Bazu" Cantacuzino

Romania is not exactly known as a hockey power, but they do have a long albeit thin history with the game.

And if early pioneer Constantine "Bazu" Cantacuzino does not top the list of greatest players, he certainly tops the list of most fascinating life story.

Cantacuzino played from 1928 through to World War II. He was described as a swift skater, crafty stickhandler and intelligent attacker. He led the Romanians through five World Championship tournaments.

But off the ice is where his story turns really amazing. He was described as a real-life playboy. He was the kind of guy they would have to get Leonardo Dicaprio to act as if they ever made a movie about him. And the really could.

Cantacuzino came from one of Romania's wealthiest families, but he had equal abundance of charm and personality as he had riches. People loved him and his amazing stunts. He was adored as a race car/bike driver and as airplane stuntman.

His ability to manoeuvre an airplane made him one of the most decorated Romanian pilots during World War II. He is said to have shot down more enemy planes than any other pilot in the Romanian Air Force. He is more celebrated in Romania as an aviator and war hero than as a hockey player.

Of course the fall out to World War II was not good to Romania and in particular to Cantacuzino. The country was soon to fall under the oppressive control of communist Soviet Union. Cantacuzino fled to Spain, leaving all his land and riches behind. He remarried - to actress Nadia Gray - and secured enough to buy a plane and earn a reasonable living as a stunt pilot.

Constantine Cantacuzino passed away in Madrid in 1958. He was just 52 years old.

Sigfrid Oberg

One of the earliest Swedish hockey sensations this fellow: Sigfrid Oberg of Stockholm. But he was far from your stereotypical Swede.

"Sigge" was a fan favorite who played his entire career (1925-1939) with Hammarby IF, winning four Swedish championship titles. He was known for his physical play. He loved to bowl over an opponent to take the puck or attempt to carry the puck right through the defender. With his speed and size he was able to catch many opponents by surprise. He liked to shoot first and think later.

Oberg represented Sweden internationally 31 times, including at the 1928 Olympics where they won a silver medal.

Sadly this great sportsman met an early demise. In April of 1949 police found the body of 42 year old Oberg drowned in a possible suicide.

Roland Stoltz

Sweden has produced some amazing defensemen over the years - from Borje Salming to Nicklas Lidstrom. 
One name NHL fans likely will not recognize as another great Swedish defender is that of Roland Stoltz. 

The 6'2" 190lb native of Stockholm paired with Lasse Bjorn on the blue line to give Sweden a world class tandem in the late 1950s and much of the 1960s. They dominated the Swedish Elite League with Djurgarden for the better part of both decades, leading the team to 9 Swedish championships. Stoltz was even named the player of the year in 1959.

The duo also formed the foundation of the national team, twice becoming World Champions - once in 1957 and again in 1962. Stoltz played in 199 international games but was at his best at the 1963 World Championships in Stockholm. Stoltz was named the tournament's best defenseman and helped Sweden win the silver medal. 

Stoltz would also lead Sweden to a silver medal at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Austria.

Stoltz became a popular hockey broadcaster on Swedish television after his career as a player was over.

Roland Stoltz's career was recognized in 1999 by the IIHF Hockey Hall of Fame.

Vlastimil Bubnik

Vlastimil Bubnik was a two sport star. Not only is he a legend of Czech hockey, but he was also an excellent footballer. He represented the former Czechoslovakia in international soccer matches, including at the 1958 World Cup and the 1960 European championships.

But hockey was his main arena. In the 1960s he was one of the top players internationally. The IIHF Hall of Famer scored 121 goals in 127 international matches, winning 3 World Championship medals (2 silver and 1 bronze) and an Olympic bronze medal (in 1964). When he retired he was was the highest scoring player in hockey history at the Olympics.

Bubnik had quite the career at home, too, of course. The long time HC Kometa Brno captain led the way with 306 goals in 287 Czech Extraliga Games. In 12 seasons he helped Brno win 11 national championships!

Bubnik, who ended his career with 2 seasons in the city of Ostrava before 3 final seasons in Austria, was described as speedy forward whose trademark was his craftiness. He had a whole arsenal of tricks up his sleeve, leaving opposing goaltenders and defense with no idea what to expect on each rush.

Valentin Kuzin

In the 1950s forward Valentin Kuzin was reported to be the fastest of the Soviet hockey players. With his tremendous speed he formed a dangerous line with Yuri Krylov and Aleksander Uvarov.

Kuzin represented the Soviet Union in 50 matches, scoring 27 goals. Assist statistics are all but non-existent in the Soviet Union for this time period but he was reported to have been an excellent playmaker and more of a passer than shooter. He was a part of the Soviets' 1956 Olympic that won gold in 1956, scoring a vital goal against Canada. He also participated in the 1954 and 1955 World Championships.

In league play he represented Moscow Dynamo in 255 league games, often as captain. He scored 156 goals.

Apparently Kuzin was quite the soccer player as well, excelling at that sport during the summer time.

Kuzin made his living making tools and was known for his excellent skate sharpening. He did many of his teammates sharpening duties when played.

Valentin Kuzin passed away in 1994. He was 67 years old.

Leonids Vedejs

This happy fellow is Leonids Vedejs, an early hockey legend in Latvia. His story is quite a fascinating one to tell.

Leonids was born on October 12, 1908 in Latvia, then still an independent country. He grew up loving two things - his country and hockey.

He was good at hockey, too. He represented Latvia in 34 international matches, a record until modern times. A forward turned defenseman, in many of those games he was the playing coach. And in 1936 he represented Latvia at the Olympics not only as a hockey player but as the country's flag bearer at the Opening Ceremonies.

Leonids hung up his skates during World War II and focused on coaching and building hockey in Latvia. But when the war was over the communist Soviets took control of his country, Leonids Vedejs fled.

After a brief period of time in Germany, Leonids ended up in the United States. He spent most of the rest of his life there, though he also lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for a while. In both countries he continued to teach young hockey players.

When Latvia regained independence in the 1990s Leonids was the number one supporter of Latvian hockey. He even supported the Latvian national women's hockey team financially.

Leonids Vedejs passed away on February 4th, 1995 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Harijs Vitolins

Probably not a lot of NHL fans know the name Harijs Violins. But for three generations now that has been the grand name of hockey in Latvia.

Lets go in reverse order. Some NHL fans may remember this hockey card. It came out in 1990 and the photo was taken from the 1989 Soviet club team tour of the NHL. Vitolins, centre for Dynamo Riga, is seen here lining up beside a member of the Minnesota North Stars.

In a couple of short years the Soviet Union collapsed and all their great players began getting full permission to pursue hockey careers in North America. Vitolins made the jump in 1992-93, though spent much of the season playing in Switzerland.

In 1993-94 Vitolins returned to North America. A draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets, Vitolins played a nice role on the Jets farm team in Moncton that season. He was rewarded for his strong play with a call up to the Jets. It lasted 8 games in which he never registered a point.

Though Vitolins showed good progress in the AHL and had his cup of coffee in the NHL, he opted to return to Europe after that season. He played out the rest of his hockey days in Switzerland. He finally retired in 2005.

Though he fell in love with Switzerland he never forgot his home country of Latvia. Seven times he represented the young country at the World championships, helping to cement the country's status in the A pool. The highlight of his national team career came in 2002 when he helped Latvia qualify for the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. He proceeded to score 2 goals and 4 points in 4 Olympic games and also acted as the country's flag bearer.

Harijs Vitolins has returned to Latvia and is a coach nowadays. It seems only fitting as he is the third generation of Latvian hockey royalty.

Accounts are sketchy due to poor statistical record keeping, but his father, Harijs Vitolins II, had a brief career in Riga. But his grandfather, the original Harijs Vitolins, was the real hockey legend of Latvia.

Born in Riga in 1915, the elder Vitolins was a winger-turned-defenceman who was described as having "an excellent understanding of the game." He represented Latvia at the 1939 World Championships but never represented the Soviet Union internationally when they incorporated Latvia into their fold. Vitolins continued playing for Riga until 1956 and coached there until 1975!