Victor Nechayev

Victor Nechayev (born January 28, 1955) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player who played three games for the Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League.^[1] He was the first player from the Soviet Union to play in the NHL, as well as the first to score a goal.

Victor Nechayev
Born	(1955-01-28) January 28, 1955 (age 70) Kuybyshevka-Vostochnaya, Amur Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position	Forward
Shot	Left
Played for	Los Angeles Kings
NHL draft	132nd overall, 1982 Los Angeles Kings
Playing career	1972–1984

A native of Siberia, Nechayev met Cheryl Haigler, an American citizen, in Switzerland in 1976, while he was playing for the Red Army team. They married in 1980 in Leningrad.^[2] In April 1982, Nechayev was granted permission to join his wife in the United States.^[3]

In the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, Nechayev was picked 132nd overall by the Kings. Unlike other Soviet players, Nechayev was able to join the team immediately, since he was already living in North America at the time he was drafted.^[4] He scored his only NHL goal against the New York Rangers on October 17, 1982.^[3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1972–73	Sibir Novosibirsk	USSR-2		34	10	4	14	16		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Sibir Novosibirsk	USSR-2		13	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Sibir Novosibirsk	USSR-2		47	6	4	10	35		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	SKA Leningrad	USSR		12	2	0	2	6		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Sudostroitel Leningrad	USSR-3		28	11	2	13	8		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	SKA Leningrad	USSR		22	5	1	6	10		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	SKA Leningrad	USSR		24	4	4	8	12		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Severstal Cherepovets	USSR-3		—	3	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Binokor Tashkent	USSR-2		6	1	1	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Izhorets Leningrad	USSR-3		16	5	0	5	12		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		3	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	New Haven Nighthawks	AHL		28	4	7	11	6		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Saginaw Gears	IHL		10	1	4	5	0		—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	Düsseldorfer EG	GER		38	7	9	16	30		—	—	—	—	—
USSR totals				58	11	5	16	28		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				3	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—