Sergei Mylnikov

Sergei Mylnikov
Born	(1958-10-06)6 October 1958 Chelyabinsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Died	20 June 2017(2017-06-20) (aged 58) Moscow, Russia
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	172 lb (78 kg; 12 st 4 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Traktor Chelyabinsk SKA Leningrad Quebec Nordiques Torpedo Yaroslavl Skedvi/Säter IF
National team	Soviet Union
NHL draft	127th overall, 1989 Quebec Nordiques
Playing career	1977–1995
Medal record Men's ice hockey Representing the Soviet Union Olympic Games 1988 Calgary Tournament World Championships 1989 Sweden Tournament 1990 Switzerland Tournament

Sergei Aleksandrovich Mylnikov (Russian: Сергей Александрович Мыльников; 6 October 1958 – 20 June 2017) was a Soviet and Russian ice hockey goaltender and coach who competed in the Soviet Hockey League, National Hockey League, and the Swedish Division 2 between 1977 and 1995.

He was the first Soviet goaltender to play in the National Hockey League. He mostly played for Traktor Chelyabinsk (1976–80, 1983–89), and also briefly for SKA Leningrad (1980–82), the Quebec Nordiques (1989–90), Torpedo Yaroslavl (1991–93) and Skedvi/Säter IF (1993–95). He was a member of the Soviet national team, winning a gold medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics and at the 1989 and 1990 IIHF World Championships. He was named to the Soviet All-Star team in 1988 and inducted into the Russian and Soviet Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985. Mylnikov helped the Soviet junior team to back-to-back junior world championships in 1977 and 1978. He was also the starting Soviet goaltender at the Canada Cup in 1987.

Playing career

Mylnikov took up hockey at the age of 6, encouraged by his father, and took up the goaltender position because of his relatively small stature. His international debut was delayed by strong competition from multiple gifted Soviet goaltenders, including Vladislav Tretiak and Vladimir Myshkin. Mylnikov finished his career with Säter IF in Sweden in 1995 and remained there as the head coach for two seasons (1995–97). After that, he trained in several Russian clubs from 1997–2012. He also continued playing masters hockey until 2010, when he had major heart surgery. He died in 2017 at the age of 58, and was survived by sons Dmitri and Sergei Jr., a brother, and a nephew – all of whom were ice hockey goaltenders.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season										Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1976–77	Traktor Chelyabinsk	USSR		2	—	—	—	120	2	—	1.00	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Traktor Chelyabinsk	USSR		22	—	—	—	1320	71	—	3.22	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Traktor Chelyabinsk	USSR		32	—	—	—	1862	90	—	2.90	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Traktor Chelyabinsk	USSR		17	—	—	—	1023	58	—	3.40	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	SKA Leningrad	USSR		40	—	—	—	2415	157	—	3.90	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	SKA Leningrad	USSR		42	—	—	—	2310	132	—	3.42	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Traktor Chelaybinsk	USSR		37	—	—	—	1954	124	—	3.80	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	Traktor Chelaybinsk	USSR		37	—	—	—	2173	91	—	2.51	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	Traktor Chelaybinsk	USSR		28	—	—	—	1360	74	—	3.26	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Traktor Chelaybinsk	USSR		37	—	—	—	2126	96	—	2.70	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	Traktor Chelaybinsk	USSR		36	—	—	—	2059	103	—	3.00	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Traktor Chelaybinsk	USSR		28	—	—	—	1559	69	—	2.65	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Traktor Chelaybinsk	USSR		33	—	—	—	1980	85	—	2.58	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		10	1	7	2	568	47	0	4.97	.857		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Traktor Chelaybinsk	USSR		23	—	—	—	1360	59	2	2.60	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Torpedo Yaroslavl	USSR		23	—	—	—	1235	73	0	3.55	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Torpedo Yaroslavl	RUS		23	—	—	—	—	55	—	2.66	—		2	—	—	—	4	0	4.00	—
1993–94	Säters IF	SWE-2		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Säters IF	SWE-2		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				10	1	7	2	568	47	0	4.97	.857		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
USSR totals				437	—	—	—	25,424	1284	—	3.03	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1977	Soviet Union	WJC		2	—	—	—	80	4	0	3.00	—
1978	Soviet Union	WJC		3	1	0	0	110	3	0	1.63	—
1985	Soviet Union	WC		1	0	0	0	20	3	0	9.00	—
1986	Soviet Union	WC		3	3	0	0	180	4	0	1.33	—
1987	Soviet Union	CC		6	5	1	0	365	18	1	3.00	—
1988	Soviet Union	OLY		8	7	1	0	480	13	2	1.62	—
1989	Soviet Union	WC		7	7	0	0	420	11	1	1.57	—
1990	Soviet Union	WC		5	4	1	0	280	8	1	1.71	—
Junior totals				5	—	—	—	190	7	0	2.21	—
Senior totals				30	26	3	0	1745	57	5	1.96	—

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database