October 6 marked the 65th birthday of Soviet hockey legend Boris Mikhailov – currently coach of the KHL’s Metallurg Novokuznetsk.
Mikhailov was one of the stars of the all-conquering CSKA Moscow side of the 1970s, and won two Olympic golds and eight world championships with the national team. He also featured in the famous 1972 Summit Series against Canada, contributing three goals and two assists. His playing career earned the prestigious Order of Lenin, the highest decoration of the Soviet era.
After hanging up his skates he became a successful coach, including a stint in charge of the Russian national team which included their first post-Soviet World Championship triumph in 1993. He also coached club sides SKA St. Petersburg and CSKA Moscow, as well as working in Switzerland, before taking the reins in Novokuznetsk in February 2007.
