Commonwealth of Independent States
Shirt badge/Association crest
Most gamesAndrei Khomutov (13)
Most pointsAndrei Khomutov (17)
IIHF codeCIS
First international
Austria  2–7  CIS
(Feldkirch, Austria; 19 January 1992)
Last international
Unified Team 3–1  Canada
(Méribel, France; 23 February 1992)
Biggest win
France  0–8 Unified Team
(Méribel, France; 14 February 1992)
Biggest defeat
Switzerland  3–0  CIS
(Rapperswil, Switzerland; 4 February 1992)
Olympics
Appearances1 (first in 1992)
Medals Gold (1992)
International record (W–L–T)
11–2–0

The CIS national ice hockey team was an ephemeral national ice hockey team that represented the Commonwealth of Independent States.[1] Essentially the former Soviet team under a different name, the CIS team existed in the few months between the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the formation of new ice hockey federations for the former Soviet states, now independent countries. Most notably, the team competed at the 1992 Winter Olympics as part of the Unified Team, winning the gold medal. However, the International Ice Hockey Federation would later attribute this gold medal to Russia as the successor state.[2][3] The International Olympic Committee does not attribute that medal to Russia.[4] After the Olympics, the CIS team ceased to exist and was replaced by the Russian team. In the 13 games the CIS played, they won 11 and lost 2.

History

Viktor Tikhonov, who coached the Soviet national team, served as the coach for the Unified Team at the Olympics.

The Soviet Union was dissolved in December 1991, only weeks before the start of the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. As a result, there was no time to send a replacement for the Soviet national team, who was expected to compete at the Olympics. In effect, the Soviet team participated, under the name "Unified Team" and with the "CCCP" on their uniforms removed, leaving a blank spot. Rather than the Soviet national anthem, the Olympic Hymn was played, and the Olympic flag was used instead of the Soviet flag.[2]

Many of the best Soviet players had since left the former Soviet Union for the National Hockey League (NHL), which did not stop play for the Olympics. Thus, the team used players from the Russian and Swiss leagues instead, and head coach Viktor Tikhonov, known for his authoritarian style of coaching, was forced to modify his strategy, as he had no leverage over the players.[2] Despite the absence of superstars, the CIS team had no problems with talent,[5] boasting experienced veterans Vyacheslav Bykov, Andrei Khomutov and Alexei Zhamnov.[6] The team was composed almost entirely of Russians, with Lithuanian-born Darius Kasparaitis and Ukrainian-born Alexei Zhitnik the only non-Russians. Kasparaitis would later represent Russia in international competition. In 2017, he switched to join the Lithuanian national team. Zhitnik would represent Russia throughout his career.

They played in three friendlies against Austria, Canada, and Italy in January 1992. They defeated the Austrians and Canadians 7-2 each, and the Italians by a score of 4–2.

The national team next took part in the Nissan Cup, hosted by Switzerland. They defeated Finland in the semifinals 6–2, but were surprised by the Swiss hosts in the final, losing by a score of 3–0.[7]

At the 1992 Winter Olympics held in Albertville, France, the national team finished with a 7–1 record, and won the gold medal by defeating Canada 3–1 in the final.

After the Olympics, the team was dissolved and replaced by the Russian national team and other national teams for the independent post-Soviet states.

Olympic record

GamesGPWLTGFGACoachCaptainFinish
19561988
France 1992 Albertville
87104614Viktor TikhonovVyacheslav Bykov Gold
1994 – present
As  Russia

Roster

Vyacheslav Bykov served as captain of the Unified Team.

A total of 20 skaters and 2 goalies players played for the Unified Team at the 1992 Winter Olympics. Nikolai Borschevsky and Andrei Khomutov tied for the lead in goals, with 7 each, while Khomutov and Vyacheslav Bykov had the most assists, 7. Khomutov had the most points on the team, with 14. While named to the team, Nikolai Khabibulin did not play in any games.

Skaters

Number Position Player Club GP G A Pts PIM
2DDmitri YushkevichDynamo Moscow8123
3DIgor KravchukCSKA Moscow8325
4DVladimir MalakhovCSKA Moscow8303
5DDmitri MironovKrylya Sovetov Moscow8314
6DDarius KasparaitisDynamo Moscow8022
7DSergei BautinDynamo Moscow8000
8CIgor BoldinSpartak Moscow8268
10LWSergei PetrenkoDynamo Moscow8325
11LWEvgeny DavydovCSKA Moscow8336
12RWNikolai BorschevskySpartak Moscow8729
13LWYuri KhmylevKrylya Sovetov Moscow84610
14RWAlexei KovalevDynamo Moscow8123
15RWAndrei KhomutovFribourg-Gottéron87714
16DSergei ZubovCSKA Moscow8011
22CVyacheslav ButsayevCSKA Moscow8112
23DAlexei ZhitnikCSKA Moscow8101
24LWVitali ProkhorovSpartak Moscow8246
26CAlexei ZhamnovDynamo Moscow8033
27CVyacheslav BykovFribourg-Gottéron84711
29RWAndrei KovalenkoCSKA Moscow8112

Goaltenders

Number Player Club GP W L Min GA GAA SV% SO
1Andrei TrefilovDynamo Moscow4
20Mikhail ShtalenkovDynamo Moscow8
30Nikolai KhabibulinCSKA Moscow

References

  1. "Commonwealth of Independent States". National Teams of Ice Hockey. Archived from the original on 2013-07-04. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
  2. 1 2 3 4 IIHF (2008). "Team with no name wins Olympic gold". IIHF.com. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  3. IIHF. "OLYMPIC ICE HOCKEY TOURNAMENTS, MEN". IIHF.com. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  4. IOC (2018). "ICE HOCKEY MEN". olympic.org. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  5. Sports Reference
  6. "Story #59".
  7. "The Olympics: Winter Games at Albertville". LA Times. 1992-02-09. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
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