Once this outstanding hockey player, who became eight times world champion, was called the best Soviet sniper, however, this status was fixed to him forever. Who is he? Of course, Makarov Sergey Alexandrovich, who made a huge contribution to Soviet sports . This is the pride of our entire country. It should be noted that he still bears the title of two-time Olympic champion. However, this is not all. Sergey Makarov was awarded a golden club because between 1981 and 1982 he was recognized as the best hockey player in Europe. It was said about him that he is also the top scorer in the world championships, and this is absolutely true!
Biography
Sergey Makarov was born on June 19, 1958 in the large Ural city of Chelyabinsk. At that time, the brother of the future hockey star was seriously engaged in this sport. Sergey's love for this exciting game arose immediately. As soon as he learned to walk, parents began to tell what hockey is.
There was a stadium near the Makarovs' house, so the brothers spent all their free time there: chasing the ball in the summer, and the puck in the winter. His brother gradually taught Sergei the basics of the game, and at five the boy was already well kept on ice. Due to the fact that the children accepted hockey teams from the age of 7, he could still play with his 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 athlete developed a fighting character, which in the future helped him gain significant victories. He always fought for the puck to the last.
Player of the Chelyabinsk Tractor
As time passed, and after hard training on ice, Sergey Makarov received an offer to join the local hockey team "Tractor". Very soon, the coaches realized that a young man who was only 15 years old would have a bright future in Soviet sports. In their opinion, Sergey Makarov was simply obliged to engage in hockey on a professional basis, and he lived up to their expectations. After graduating from high school, the future sports star becomes a student at the Chelyabinsk Institute of Physical Culture.
Invitation to the USSR national team
Soon, a talented Ural guy is noticed by the coach of the national hockey team Viktor Tikhonov. He invited the Makarov brothers to join her, and those, without much hesitation, agreed. That's how Sergey Makarov ended up on the same playing field with such eminent athletes as Vladimir Krutov, Igor Larionov, Vyacheslav Fetisov, Alexei Kasatonov.
The triumph of Soviet hockey players
Soon in 1978, a friendly match took place 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 preparation and even score the puck into the opponent’s goal. Our players eventually got a victory. A few days later in Tampere, the enemy wanted to recoup, but he did not succeed - Makarov scored again. 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 glory comes to the hockey player. Photos of Sergey Makarov are regularly printed in well-known publications covering the topic of sports in the country of the Soviets. Throughout the season, as part of the national team, he is in impeccable physical form, striking coaches with an excellent game on ice. The hockey player, together with the team, decides to go to Canada for the Challenge Cup to face off in fights with the strongest NHL players, which included Canadians, Swedes, and Finns.
At the beginning of the 70s, our team was called the Red Car, and, despite some setbacks, which were later dubbed the “Czechoslovak curse”, the USSR managed to win gold in five world champions and win the Canada Cup and the Challenge Cup.
Of course, Sergey Makarov is a hockey player with a capital letter. In 1983, 1985, 1986 at the world championship he was recognized as the top scorer, and in 1979 - the best sniper. And, of course, every hockey fan of the USSR era knew the great three of “Krutov-Larionov-Makarov”, which is still recognized by experts as invincible. For the first time, Sergey Makarov played in this famous troika in a friendly match, which took place in 1981 in Edmonton. It is noteworthy that in 1986 at an international tournament the entire USSR team began to be called the All Stars team. That's how young guys who are under the age of thirty became sports stars.
What helped win?
How did Sergey Makarov, the “hockey player legend”, win matches against formidable rivals who simply trembled when they heard the composition of the Red Car? This was once asked by journalists. “I do not like to praise myself. Assessment of my game should be given by experts and sports analysts. I believe that we won because we knew how to improvise and create unusual situations at the gates of the enemy, ”said the two-time Olympic champion.
It should be noted that at crucial moments it was thanks to Sergey Makarov that the hockey players of the Soviet team managed to win. For CSKA, from 1978 to 1989, he played 472 matches and scored more than three hundred goals.
Career abroad
After the era of perestroika began in the country, many eminent athletes were left out of work, so they had to look for work abroad. Sergey Makarov was no exception. Hockey was the meaning of his life for him, and he decided to go overseas, where he became a player of Calgary Flames.
In the first season, the best sniper scored and won the Calder Trophy - he was awarded this award as the best rookie in the league. At first, playing in the USA, Sergey Makarov felt discomfort. After the season at Calgary Flames ended, he decided to visit his native Chelyabinsk and helped his brother train the local Tractor team all summer.
After the collapse of the USSR, he played for Calgary Flames for several seasons, and then signed a contract with San Jose, but he did not achieve significant success in the new team. In 1995, he played for the Swiss club Friborg-Gotterone, after which he returned to the NHL to play for the Dallas team.
After a career
It's no secret that the famous hockey player has done a lot to ensure that sports develop in our country. In his honor, a section was opened for those who want to professionally learn how to score goals. In 2005, on the initiative of the city authorities in Chelyabinsk, the hockey school of Sergei Makarov was opened.
Now he is engaged in business, helping to train boys in an American hockey school. Lives with his family in California. Sometimes takes part in veteran tournaments.