Vsevolod Vladimirovich Kukushkin is a Russian journalist, writer and ice hockey administrator.
29 Facts About Vsevolod Kukushkin
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Vsevolod Kukushkin has written for Komsomolskaya Pravda, TASS, RIA Novosti and Sport Express.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin traveled with the Soviet Union national ice hockey team as both a journalist and translator, and reported on ice hockey at the Olympic Games, the Ice Hockey World Championships and Canada Cup tournaments.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin received the Paul Loicq Award in 2000 from the IIHF for contributions to international ice hockey.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin developed an appreciation for goaltenders by playing the position in school, and his understanding of the inherent physical demands and frequent injuries.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin learned the English language as a young adult on the advice of his parents, and wanted to become a journalist.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin followed that advice and graduated from Moscow Power Engineering Institute in 1965.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin began his career in sports journalism becoming a member of the Union of Journalists of the Russian Federation in 1966, and then a member of the International Sports Press Association in 1969.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin was originally a freelancer and a correspondent for Komsomolskaya Pravda, before he worked at TASS for 22 years.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin later worked for RIA Novosti and Sport Express.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin has published books in addition to reporting on ice hockey, and written screenplays for television documentaries on sports, ice hockey and popular science.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin's career includes reporting on ice hockey at the Olympic Games from 1968 to 2002, each Ice Hockey World Championships in the same time frame, and every Canada Cup tournament played.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin had access to the team's locker room and the opportunity to speak directly with the players and be part of their daily life.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin translated early discussions for the event which became the 1972 Summit Series.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin was present at the 1972 Izvestia Cup when Alan Eagleson and John Ziegler Jr.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin authored books on the Canada Cup tournaments, and Soviet national team coach Viktor Tikhonov.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin reported that the Russian people were upset at losing the nation's best players to the National Hockey League, and not playing on the Russian national team.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin sat on International Ice Hockey Federation committees which included the championship bid committee and the IIHF Hall of Fame committee from 1998 to 2003, the evaluation committee and the IIHF Hall of Fame committee from 2003 to 2008, and the strategic consulting group from 2013 to 2016.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin served as the press secretary for the Russian Superleague.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin noted that taxation in Russia was favorable to expatriate players, and expected the trend to continue despite uncertain profitability.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin commented that the event was profit-driven by ticket sales and broadcasting rights, but noted that Russian players wanted to participate for pride rather than just money.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin was surprised that original proposals were discussed by Rene Fasel of the IIHF and Bob Nicholson of Hockey Canada.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin remained in his advisory role, and stated that "we see the league as a challenge to the NHL in the future".
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Vsevolod Kukushkin instead suggested the KHL be divided into three levels based on play ability, and stated "we shouldn't copy the NHL, because sometimes the copy becomes a parody, and it doesn't do any good".
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Vsevolod Kukushkin is part of the selection committee for the Russian Hockey Hall of Fame as of 2016.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin was made a laureate of the International and All-Union Sports Film Festivals in 1972.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin received the Paul Loicq Award in 2000 from the IIHF for contributions to international ice hockey.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin was the third recipient of the award, and the first Russian.
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Vsevolod Kukushkin stated that he was very surprised to be honored with the award, which he received at the IIHF Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the 2000 IIHF World Championship hosted in Saint Petersburg, Russia.