Sergey Makarov: sports career of hockey player

Once this outstanding hockey player, who became the world champion eight times, was called the best Soviet sniper, however, this status behind him was fixed for good. Who is he? Of course, Makarov Sergey Alexandrovich, who contributed to the Soviet sport is simply a huge mite. This is the pride of our country. It should be noted that he still wears the title of two-time Olympic champion. However, that's not all. Sergei Makarov awarded a golden stick, because in the period from 1981 to 1982 he was recognized as the best hockey player in Europe. It was said about him that he is also the best scorer in the world championships, and this is absolutely true!

Biography

Sergei Makarov was born on June 19, 1958 in the large Urals city of Chelyabinsk. At that time the brother of the future hockey star was seriously engaged in this sport. The love for this fascinating game with Sergei arose immediately. As soon as he learned how to walk, his parents began to talk about hockey.

Not far from the Makarovs' house was a stadium, so the brothers spent all their free time there: in the summer they drove the ball, and in the winter - the puck. The brother gradually taught Sergei the basics of the game, and at five years old the boy was already well on the ice. In view of the fact that children were accepted to children's hockey teams from the age of 7, he could still play with peers who were 1-2 years older than him. Of course, against their background, he looked like a weak hockey player, but in these unequal fights the future sportsman developed a fighting character, which in the future helped him to win significant victories. For the puck, he always fought to the last.

Player of the Chelyabinsk "Tractor"

Time passed, and after hard training on the ice Sergey Makarov gets an offer to join the local hockey team "Tractor". Very soon the coaches realized that a young man who was just 15 years old is waiting for a bright future in Soviet sport. In their opinion, Sergei Makarov simply had to engage in hockey on a professional basis, and he justified their hopes. After graduating from high school, the future sports star becomes a student of the Chelyabinsk Institute of Physical Culture.

Invitation to the USSR team

Soon talented Ural boy notes the mentor of the national hockey team Viktor Tikhonov. He suggested that the brothers Makarov join it, and those who did not hesitate to agree, agreed. That's how Sergei Makarov was on the same playing field with such eminent athletes as Vladimir Krutov, Igor Larionov, Vyacheslav Fetisov, Alexei Kasatonov.

Triumph of Soviet hockey players

Soon in 1978, a friendly match was held between the Soviet national team and the Finnish national team, which was held in Helsinki. This was the first game with Sergei Makarov in the team that represented the USSR in world sports. In this match, he was able to demonstrate excellent training and even score a puck into the opponent's goal. In the end, our players won. A few days later in Tampere, the enemy wanted to recoup, but he did not succeed - Makarov again scored. The USSR team won in this match. After that, our hockey players managed to defeat the Swedish national team and easily get to the World Cup, which was held in Prague.

From this moment to the hockey player comes the glory. Photos of Sergei Makarov regularly published in well-known publications that cover the topic of sports in the country of the Soviets. All the season in the national team he is in perfect physical form, hitting coaches with an excellent game on the ice. The hockey player together with the team decides to go to Canada for the Challenge Cup to face off against the strongest NHL players, which included Canadians, Swedes, and Finns.

Our team in the early 70's was called "Red Machine", and despite some failures, which were later dubbed "Czechoslovak curse," the USSR managed to take gold in five world champions, win the Canadian Cup, the Challenge Cup.

Of course, Sergei Makarov - a hockey player with a capital letter. In 1983, 1985, 1986 in the world championship he was recognized as the best scorer, and in 1979 - the best sniper. And, of course, every hockey fan of the era of the USSR knew the great three "Krutov - Larionov - Makarov", which experts still recognize as invincible. For the first time Sergei Makarov played in this famous troika in a friendly match, which took place in 1981 in Edmonton. Noteworthy is the fact that in 1986 at the international tournament the whole USSR national team began to be called the All Stars team. That's how the young guys who were not yet thirty and turned into sports stars.

What helped to win?

As Sergei Makarov - "hockey legend" - could win in fights with formidable opponents, who just trembled when they heard the composition of the "Red car"? This was once asked by journalists. "I do not like to praise myself. Evaluation of my game should be given by experts and sports analysts. I believe that we won because we were able to improvise and create unusual situations at the opponent's gate, "said the two-time Olympic champion.

It should be noted that at crucial moments thanks to Sergei Makarov hockey players of the Soviet national team managed to win. For CSKA for the period from 1978 to 1989, he played 472 games and scored more than three hundred goals.

Career abroad

After the era of perestroika in the country, many eminent athletes were left out of work, so they had to look for work abroad. Sergei Makarov was not an exception. Hockey for him was the meaning of life, and he decided to go overseas, where he became a player of the "Calgary Flames".

In the first season, the best sniper excelled and won the "Calder Trophy" - this award he was awarded as the best rookie of the league. First time, playing in the US, Sergei Makarov felt uncomfortable. After the season in "Calgary Flames" ended, he decided to visit his native Chelyabinsk and throughout the summer helped his brother train the local team "Tractor".

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, he played a few seasons for the "Calgary Flames", and then signed a contract with "San Jose", but did not achieve significant success in the new team. In 1995, he plays for the Swiss club "Friborg-Gotterone", and then again returns to the NHL to play for the "Dallas" team.

After a career

It's no secret that the famous hockey player did a lot to develop sports in our country. In his honor, a section was opened for those who want to professionally learn how to score washers. In 2005, on the initiative of the city authorities in Chelyabinsk, the hockey school of Sergey Makarov was opened.

Now he is engaged in business, helps to train boys in the American hockey school. Lives with his family in California. Sometimes he takes part in veteran tournaments.