CrashingTheGoalie

by Ron Spence

I have always admired Keith Gretzky. He was a player with little talent, but had a great love of the game. He played throughout the minors and eventually went into coaching, was briefly a GM, and is now Phoenix’s Director of Amateur Scouting.

And, he has survived – throughout it all – living in the shadow of the Great One – his brother, Wayne.

Another player who has lived under the shadow of a close relative is Alexei Krutov, son of Vladimir.

He is a 24-year-old forward for the ZSC Lions - a Swiss team where he has played since 2007.

On the talent scale, the apple fell a long way from his father’s tree.

Vladimir played in seven World Championships, three Olympic Games and three Canada Cups. He won the Olympics twice and was a six-time world champion.

He was named to the World Championship All-Star team four times.

How great was he? During the 1987 Canada Cup he scored 7 goals and 15 points in 9 games. Gretzky had 21 points, Lemieux 18, and the three of them were the the tournament’s all-star forwards.

Krutov was playing on the renowned KLM line – with Igor Larionov and Sergei Makarov

During the regular season, the “Tank” starred for CSKA Moscow from 1978 until 1989.

He played one season – 1989-90 – in Vancouver and then in Switzerland for the struggling ZSC Lions – then known as Zürcher SC. He was there two seasons before playing four campaigns in Sweden.

His difficulty adapting to the western life style has been well documented, and the subject of humour. They called him Vladimir Crouton and Vlad the Inhaler.

“Larionov predicted his long-time left winger would score 40 goals in the NHL,” wrote Russianhockey.net. “But ‘Tank’ Krutov reported overweight and never got in gear. He showed flashes of brilliance on occasion, but defensive assignments seemed totally alien to him. He constantly looked as bewildered as the first time he arrived at Vancouver airport. A shy and enigmatic personality, he was hard to get to know and was still trying to fit in seven months after he arrived in Canada. After years of living under military-imposed conditions Krutov had trouble knowing what to do with his free time and how to discipline himself. He reported to training camp at 210 pounds and his love of hot dogs and fast food had him constantly fighting the battle of the bulge. The Canucks believed he must play at 190 to be effective. In early December, [coach Bob] McCammon, frustrated with Krutov’s play, benched the bulky 29-year-old winger. It was the first of several occasions when Krutov didn’t dress. He was 11-23-34 and minus-5 in 61 games.”

“His usual routine was to stop at a 7-eleven Store and order two hot dogs,” quipped McCammon, ”a bag of potato chips and a soft drink. After practice, he would return for a second order”.

Alexei – the next generation – has had little trouble adapting to the western life.

“It’s ok,” he told Merk. “The team is good and most of the time I have something to do with my friends here but before you go to sleep it can be boring and you think about all the people you miss.”

But, like Keith Greztky, he has little talent.

Alexei was never drafted by an NHL team – and had he had some talent, a team would have selected him as a genetic longshot – in a lower round. He hasn’t appeared on any Russian all-star teams and has been described as a “utility forward” in the Swiss league.

Zurich’s imports are Canadians and Czechs and Krutov is able to play as a resident because he was issued his first hockey license while his father was playing in Switzerland.

Alexei was a six-year-old when his family moved to Zurich and he – of course – started to play hockey there.

“I learned to skate here at the Kebo (ZSC’s practice rink) and on outdoor rinks,” he told Karl Huber. “I was skating there with friends. My parents thought it’s better than hanging around in the streets.”

Back in the homeland, Alexei’s hockey career continued at Vlad’s old CSKA Moscow. By this time, his retired father was the club’s coach.

“When I was young my father and I naturally talked about hockey every day,” he told Huber. “Although, I didn’t play very often with him as my coach, as I had to gain experience at a farm team. I was sent back and forth between the first team and the farm team.”

“Nowadays, I obviously have to make my own decisions and think on my own. Sure, he still gives me tips, but not all of the time now.”

From CSKA Moscow, Alexei went to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Krylya Sovietov Moscow, Metallurg Novokuznetsk, Khimik Voskresensk and Severstal Cherepovets.

He talked about his invitation to play in Switzerland.

“I was very interested,” he told Martin Merk. “It’s great to play where my father played before. I remember the old Hallenstadion before the big renovation. It had a bicycle track around the rink. I was always running on it as a kid.”

He had to adapt from Russian to Swiss hockey, however.

“…the style of hockey is different everywhere. I have to admit that it was not my style in the beginning. In Russia it was more skill oriented, with more passing. The game in Russia is not so physical as in Switzerland. It’s more a Canadian style here, everyone tries to hit you. I needed time to adjust, maybe a month, or two.”

Last season he scored just 3 goals with 11 assists in 46 games in the Swiss National League A, then the Lions won the Swiss title, and graduated to the Champions Hockey League.

“Winning the championship was the first real title in my life as a professional player,” said Krutov.

This season, the Lions have won the European club crown.

And Alexei has 7 goals and 5 assists in 40 games and is a plus 11.

2008-09

Before the championship game, Krutov said: ”We have a good chance. Everyone understands what an amazing situation it is for Swiss hockey that we are in the Champions Hockey League final.”

“…the last match of the regular championship we tried to play the way we would do it against Magnitogorsk,” Krutov told English Sports Express. “The rehearsal was successful – we won an away game. Metallurg is a technically prepared, speedy team and its leader Marek is the most effective in KHL and that tells a lot … in such matches the key point is being up to the game. Magnitka will be more oppressed psychologically as in Russia everybody expects only victory and that should help us. And our coach is also an experienced specialist, he perfectly knows his business.”

They won the two-leg Champions Hockey League final 7-2 on aggregate. They tied the first game against Metallurg Magnitogorsk 2-2 in Russia, and won the second 5-0 (The Canadian imports scored 4 of the 5 goals.) in Switzerland.

The ZSC Lions now have the right to play an NHL team in a $1 million challenge game in October.

The International Ice Hockey Federation is hoping that the matchup will be against the Stanley Cup champs. But, the inaugural Victoria Cup match – held last October – was between Magnitogorsk and the Rangers [New York won 4-3.].

courtesy of zsc-lions.ch

“He’s working in Moscow,” Alexej says about his father, “and is onvolved in sports administration. Last time I saw him was a month ago when I was there for a short visit.”

Next time that they visit, the father and son can talk about the European club championships.

Alexei has won one and Vladimir 11 with CSKA Moscow.