Balderis Hellmuth: biography and photo of a hockey player

At the time, an outstanding coach Vsevolod Bobrov called this hockey not only as "the Riga rocket." He valued not only for its unreal speed of the game, but also for the amazing speed of his thinking. Fans of the male sport game loved him for his beautiful riding style, incredible magnetism games and, of course, for the mastery of the stick. He was very distinctive hockey player. And the talent, hard work and phenomenal, and an iron will and discipline - all combined in it together. He - is award-winning and best Latvian sportsman of the USSR. His name is Helmut Balderis. Biography hockey player will be told further.

The formation of

Famous athlete Helmut Balderis was born in the middle of summer 1952 in the capital of Latvia. Like many Soviet young people, he liked sports. He preferred football, basketball and, of course, hockey. By Rod manifested at an early age the latter sport. In any case, he had already wanted to devote themselves to this task. Luckily, the parents did not oppose the request, and recorded in the section of his son. It was the 1963rd.

Polish their skills, he began in the walls of one of the city's Youth. By this time the young hockey player apparently did not stand out from the circle of his peers. He clearly understood that the way to sporting excellence and success lies in the daily work on yourself. Due to this understanding, he will never give up, do not give up and went to its star.

Incidentally, the hockey player vision was unimportant. He once even trained and acted in spectacles. Then he began to wear contact lenses. By and large, it helped him in the future. You agree that such problems could break the very strong-willed athlete. Balderis but it did not become a serious obstacle on the path to future success. After some time, the coaches, it became clear that it can be to grow a strong hockey player. That is why teachers have been paying more attention to it. As it turned out, it is not in vain.

The pupil trained hard and lived a dream that once he comes out on the ice as a professional hockey player.

The result was not long in coming. As a sixteen teenager, Balderis Hellmuth (picture of a hockey player in the article) have already started to play as part of the Riga command "Vagonostroitel". In those games, he showed himself very well and he felt that in the near future he will in fact adult career.

In the "Dynamo"

Actually, that's what happened. In the late 60's and early athletic career Balderis Hellmuth. He was invited to the "Dynamo" (Riga). I have to say the honor of the club, he defended many games and competitions until 1985.

Balderis as the attacker, managed to quickly fit into the scheme of the whole team. As a result, he began to show a fantastic level of play. For eight years, he truly shone on the ice, but no one could have thought that he would become one of the best forwards in the world.

In those times it happened that the most experienced players, sooner or later, moving to Moscow. Of course, such a fate awaited and Balderis.

fateful meeting

This event turned out to be really decisive in the career of the famous athlete. In the late 70s he was personally acquainted with the great coach of the USSR Viktor Tikhonov. For many, Hellmuth was new: no one really knew. In addition, in his great ability in hockey, to say the least, doubtful. However, in the words of Tikhonov, his many all sorts of way to antagonize this Riga striker. He said that Helmut coward, it is absolutely no charisma and hockey gifts. And pay attention to him - an unforgivable mistake for the veteran coach. But Tikhonov did not listen to anyone. He felt that this young man will be a good judge. The coach was not wrong. And when in 1977 Balderis recognized as the best scorer of the championship then, all the rumors about the dubious possibilities Rigan finally disappeared. For Tikhonov found a real treasure.

"soldier" Balderis

In the same 1977 Balderis officially joined in the CSKA. This fact greatly distressed Riga fans. Indeed, for the time Hellmuth played for "Dinamo", he became one of the favorite for many forwards. Moreover, for some it was a true role model.

Nevertheless Balderis repeatedly admitted that his decision to become an army was made only to them. According to him, at some point he just wanted to try my hand to go ahead and take the next height. And for that he has to play with real hockey masters. Club Membership priori was a great honor for him. However, every hockey player would be proud of this fact.

Thus, for three years the athlete has become a major player. He showed his skills in one link with the legendary Kapustin and Zhlutkovym ...

In the Soviet team

Balderis career in the Soviet national team inevitably came up. At a minimum, Tikhonov's team was able to regain the title of world champions.

And in 1979, the contest was held in the Soviet capital. Of course, the USSR national team could not win. As a result - a well-deserved gold medal.

But the following year at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, US national team lost to the Americans. Team was only one step to the promised gold. The defeat of ideological opponents has become a real "witch hunt" by the Soviet officials. So, a few hockey team was "fired" from the national team. The trouble is not spared and Balderis. Leading publication "Pravda" published a crushing article: wine humiliating defeat was blamed on the Riga striker. All this greatly hurt the feelings of a talented athlete. He decided to return to his homeland, in Riga.

Again in Riga

Latvian fans do not get tired to rejoice: the famous hockey player, role model Helmut Balderis back of the Riga "Dinamo"! He was then only twenty-eight, and once again he has demonstrated an amazing level of play.

In all, he played for the home team until 1985

In the first season after his return, he again became a key figure in the club. A Riga "Dinamo" in 1985 and became the champion of the USSR did. But after this apparent success, Balderis decided to retire from the sport. The reason was one. Hellmuth offered the post of assistant head coach of the Japanese hockey team called "Oji Seishi". As a result of the rising sun athlete he spent four years. During these seasons, he was able to supplement their collection of awards 3 titles of national champion.

After that hockey Balderis Hellmuth has once again returned to his homeland. Perhaps he would continue to be in Riga, but was followed by a completely unexpected turn in his career.

A new twist

The fact that the 37-year-old athlete has received an offer to become a non-existent current hockey player already at the moment of the club, "Minnesota North Stars." The idea of ​​inviting the Riga legionary belonged to the general manager, "Minnesota" Lu Nain. At the time, he is well remembered and play, and Helmut equipment in international matches. Thus, a two-year contract was concluded with him. Following it, the salary is directly dependent on the club and the game of hockey in the hit.

But for the "Minnesota" Balderis could play only 26 matches. All games were held in 1989. The next year a number of reasons an athlete has not come out on the ice. Especially since the new manager of the club by the name of Bobby Clark said that the team no longer needs the services of a hockey player from the Soviet Union. As a result, Balderis had to return home. Being forty years, he managed to take part in the championship of the independent Latvia.

In the mid-90s, he coached the national team. But this time he could not achieve anything. And the career of the legendary hockey player as a coach over and over never resumed.

Life hockey is a great sport

After the final departure from the sport Balderis worked at the Riga Sports Palace as director. Also, he was the second person in the Latvian Hockey Federation. And here he has worked solely on a voluntary basis.

In addition, Balderis Hellmuth tried to start a business. For example, he led a workshop pharmaceutical company. But, unfortunately, in this business, he himself was not able to prove. Although in recent years, he became the head of the Latvian company, which specializes in agricultural production. Namely - his company grows and sells organic foods, including tomatoes, meat, milk.

And the last. National treasure Latvia Helmut Balderis considered an exemplary family man. He is married and has two adult daughters. So we can say with confidence that the personal life Balderis Helmut completely held.

Instead of an epilogue

Many fans Balderis repeatedly asked him why he finally decided to leave the big sports. Especially because it was a huge success. The athlete admitted that it inevitably drawn back home to Riga. Because that is where he was born, I grew up, graduated from high school, and most importantly - not only experienced his first defeat, but also a high-profile wins.