Yevgeni Belosheikin

Yevgeni Vladimirovich Belosheikin (Russian: Евгений Владимирович Белошейкин; April 17, 1966 – November 18, 1999) was a professional ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League. He played for the HC CSKA Moscow and SKA Leningrad. He also played on the Soviet Union's 1987 Canada Cup and Rendez-vous '87 teams. He was nicknamed "Evgeny the Great" and was touted as the next Vladislav Tretiak – and had even been tutored by Tretiak and wore his number 20, though their styles bore little resemblance.^[1]

In 1986 Belosheikin was named the outstanding goaltender of the 1986 IIHF World U20 Championships in Hamilton, Canada. During the tournament the U.S.S.R went undefeated, winning 7 games and Belosheikin allowed only 8 goals in 5 games (He shared goal tending with Oleg Bratash in 1985 and 1986.).

He was the starting goalie for the U.S.S.R. during the 1986 and 1987 Ice Hockey World Championships, when he won a gold and silver medal.

On New Year's Eve 1986, Belosheikin led the Soviets to a 4-1 win over Canada and was also named the outstanding goaltender in the 1987 Calgary Cup, a pre-Olympic tournament.

He played 3 games, including the classic double-overtime second final game, in the 1987 Canada Cup.

During the 1988 Winter Olympics he was the U.S.S.R.'s third, or back up, goalie and did not dress for any games (but, like Nikolai Khabibulin at the next Winter Olympics, who also did not play, Belosheikin was a member of the gold medal winning team.)^[2]

Belosheikin's final game of his international career was on February 2, 1988 with a 4-1 win in an exhibition game against Finland.

Though he was considered the heir apparent to Vladislav Tretiak as the next great Soviet goaltender, Belosheikin suffered problems with alcoholism. After being drugged and robbed after a night of drinking with teammate Alexei Gusarov, he suffered liver and vision problems, which hastened the end of his career. In 1991 the Edmonton Oilers selected him in the 11th round, 232nd overall in the NHL entry draft, though Belosheikin reported to camp that year, he was immediately sent to the Oilers Cape Breton affiliate where he played only 3 games. Belosheikin never played in the NHL.

Belosheikin died by suicide on November 18, 1999.^[3]