Andrei Mezin - the legendary Belarusian goalkeeper

Andrei Mezin is one of the most popular Belarusian hockey players. During his long career, the goalkeeper won many trophies. Hockey fans will remember this outstanding goalkeeper for a long time. Mezin Andrey, whose photo was often published by the media, was always very modest and serious about the game.

Carier start

Andrei Mezin was born in 1974 in the city of Chelyabinsk. At the age of 6 Andrei was taken to hockey in the children's school of the Tractor team. This goalkeeper was never among the stars that were prepared for the main team. After graduating from high school, he spent one year in the student team "Polytechnic". At the end of the season the team refused from him and the goalkeeper decided to try himself in a team from the city of Novopolotsk. Andrey was supported by his older brother, who at that time coached the club "Chemist". Perhaps, it was thanks to the support of his brother that Andrei Mezin became a professional player.

Professional career

Before moving to Belarus Andrei Mezin thought about the end of his career. "Maybe it's better to begin to study hard?" He often thought. But I decided to try myself in sports. As soon as Mesin started to play for the new club, he was drafted into the army. There he spent about two weeks as an ordinary soldier. And after that the goalkeeper began to regularly attract to play at various tournaments. On his return, Mezin began his professional ascent in the club "Chemist 2" in the debut for Belarus ice hockey championship. The statistics of this goalkeeper was terrible. For six games he missed 55 goals. It was not only Mezin Andrey that was to blame for this, but the whole team, which was recruited from amateurs.

Traveling across the ocean

After the end of the unsuccessful season, Mezin was brought down with an agent who helped the goalkeeper to go overseas. In the American youth leagues the goalkeeper spent 5 years. In a club with him played many rising stars, such as Ruslan Salei, Pavol Demitra, Sergei Stas, etc. Despite the many games played in the championship and the playoffs, Mezin could not light up in the NHL. Further his career, this player decided to continue in Germany.

Continuation of career in the hockey championship of Germany

Mezin Andrei Anatolyevich spent 1998-1999 in the club "Nuremberg Ice Tigers". Season, in which the Goalkeeper defended the gate in a total of 62 games, was extremely successful. His team became the silver medalist of the German championship. Mezin made a great contribution to such a high achievement of the club. Later this talented goalkeeper moved to the team "Berlin Capitals". For three seasons, held in this club, Mezin participated in 174 games. Great success the goalkeeper with his team could not achieve.

Continuation of the game abroad

During the time spent in Germany, Mezin became known in a variety of leagues. This goalkeeper noticed the Kazan "Ak Bars" and invited him to himself. However, in Tatarstan Andrey was not allowed to play. For the entire season he stood at the gate only one game. After the failure in the Russian championship goalkeeper decided to return to Germany again at the club "Kassel". A contract was already signed, but at the last moment the athlete suffered a knee injury. Because of this, Mezin had to spend a lot of time on treatment. The club was dissatisfied and terminated the contract with him. Mezinu had to give up half a season for hockey. Only in the offseason he signed a contract with the Czech club "Ceske Budejovice". In this club goalkeeper played 15 matches.

Return to the Russian Championship

The services of Mezin in the 2004-2005 season were taken advantage of by St. Petersburg club SKA. There the goalkeeper often went out on the ice, showing a high level game. At the end of the season, Andrew signed a contract with the club "Salavat Yulaev." The Belarusian goalkeeper played a total of 66 games for this club. In the last season of the existence of the Super League Mezin played for Magnitogorsk "Metallurg". It was in this team Mezin began his journey in the KHL. In the second season for the Magnitogorsk club Andrey spent 32 games. In 2008, this goalkeeper signed a contract with the Minsk "Dynamo". In the Belarusian team he played until 2012. At the end of his playing career Mezin was in clubs such as Lokomotiv, Tractor and Avangard.

Per Country

Mezin for many years was the main goalkeeper of the Belarusian team. This goalkeeper spent 86 games, speaking for the national team at the world championships and the Olympic Games. Four times Andrey became the best hockey player of his country.

Completion of career

Many fans will remember such a great goalkeeper, as Mezin Andrei Anatolyevich. His biography first developed quite heavily, but despite this, he found the strength for growth. The career of Andrei Mezin, no doubt, was a success. Even closer to the decline of active sports activities, this goalkeeper showed decent statistics. He is the oldest player ever to compete for the national team of Belarus. After the completion of his successful career, Andrei Mezin began to work as a coach. In 2014, Andrei began to work for the great coach Vladimir Krikunov. And after that he was invited to the coaching staff of the Belarusian team. There Mesin is respected and relies on his experience.