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PROFILE:
Victor Khatulev (02.17.1955 - 10.1994)
Career Highlights:
- Played as a Left Wing and Defenseman
for Dynamo Riga, Latvia/USSR
- World Junior Championship (WJC)
Gold in 1974 and 1975; 21 pts (9+12) in 9 games
- WJC Best Forward (1975)
- WJC All Stars (1975)
- Philadelphia Flyers 7th pick (9/160th overall)
in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft
- Cleveland Crusaders pick (9/116th overall) in
the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft.
- Played in the 1977-78 USSR vs. WHA Teams Series,
6 games, 2 pts (1+1)
- Played in the 1978-79 Krylia Sovetov vs. NHL Teams
Series, 4 games, 2 pts (2+0)
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KHATULEV
Victor KHATULEV was arguably one of the most promising
young Soviet hockey players in the 1970s. Talented players
were present in the Soviet hockey long before and way
after Khatulev's time in hockey. By many accounts, it
was the 1972 Summit Series that showed the impressive
hockey mastership of the Soviet players in their first
ever face-to-face battle with the top NHL talents. Ironically,
none of the heroes of the 1972 Team USSR got a chance
neither to play for nor to be officially drafted by the
NHL. It was Victor Khatulev's who became the first ever
born and trained in the USSR elite player to be drafted
by an NHL team (Philadelphia 1975).
USSR Elite League Career
Stats
| Team (Place) |
Year |
GP |
G |
|
Dynamo R (6)
|
1974
|
18
|
7
|
|
Dynamo R (5)
|
1975
|
16
|
2
|
|
Dynamo R (6)
|
1976
|
27
|
6
|
|
Dynamo R (4)
|
1977
|
32
|
4
|
|
Dynamo R (6)
|
1978
|
29
|
7
|
|
Dynamo R (6)
|
1979
|
34
|
9
|
|
Dynamo R (8)
|
1980
|
19
|
4
|
|
Dynamo R (5)
|
1981
|
24
|
4
|
|
Total:
|
1974-81
|
199
|
33
|
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Being a very gifted athlete, Khatulev began his career
in junior hockey as a forward. His sensational world-class
play at the WJC in Leningrad'74 and in Winnipeg'75 immediately
impressed the NHL scouts. One can find it interesting
that he was selected by the Flyers'75. As an eyewitness
of the CSKA vs. Philadelphia game in 1976, I would rather
say the Flyers seemed to be the least team to be interested
in playing Soviet style hockey. Their aggressive and brutal
style just didn't fit into the concept of finesse and
slick passing perpetuated by the Russian hockey.
For a variety of reasons, Khatulev never played neither
for Fred Shero nor for any other NHL coaches. However,
he was probably the first in the Soviet League to play
a truly Canadian style choosing the enforcer's role that
was virtually non-existent prior to his time in Soviet
hockey.
It was Khatulev who became the biggest and strongest
Soviet player after Alexander
Ragulin's retirement in 1973. He demonstrated
his great speed and puck-handling skills and showed impressive
scoring abilities playing for the legendary Victor
Tikhonov in Dynamo Riga. However due to his unmatched
physical strength and size, Khatulev was soon moved from
the forwards to play defense. He became one of the top
blueliners in Dynamo Riga.
Needless to say, few if not none were able to challenge
Khatulev when it was time to show character in the hockey
fights. His competitive spirit and frequent on and off
the ice loss of emotional control seemed absolutely frightening.
In 1979, 25-year old Khatulev was banned from sports for
one year after a fight in a game against the mighty CSKA.
When the suspension was lifted, Khatulev came back to
play for the national team and took part in several top-notch
tournaments against the NHL teams. In 1981, he got life
suspension from hockey again.
One can only speculate what his career would have brought
him in the 1970s Flyers where fighting and aggressive
behavior were only welcomed. It's hard to predict what
turn his career might have taken if he had accepted the
offer to join the Red Army Club. In my opinion, Khatulev
remains one of the most controversial figures in the Soviet
hockey. By all means, his story is a story of big talent
that wasn't realized quiet to the level of its potential.
Note: Special thanks to the Nash
Hokkei fans for their contribution and opinions in
preparation of this article and to David Mozeshtam,
a lifelong fan and expert on history of Dynamo Riga.
P.S.: After publication of this mini-article,
the Summit in 1972 received
information on the last days of Victor Khatulev. According
to the Nash Hokkei
fans, the end of his life was tragic. He was employed
as a warehouse worker and was known for frequent alcohol
abuse.
In October 1994, the dead body of once the most promising
Russian hockey players was found on the street. He was
only 39.
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