Igor Larionov

Igor Larionov is a Russian sports agent and former professional ice hockey player, known as The Professor. Along with Viacheslav Fetisov, he was instrumental in breaking the barrier that kept Soviet players from joining the National Hockey League (NHL). He primarily played the center position.

Larionov won three Stanley Cup championships with the Detroit Red Wings (1997, 1998, 2002) and was inducted as a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame on 10 November 2008. He was a member of Detroit's famed Russian Five line.

On the international stage, playing for the Soviet Union, Larionov centered Vladimir Krutov and Sergei Makarov. Larionov won two gold medals (1984, 1988) for the Soviet Union and one bronze medal for Russia (2002) at the Olympics. At the World Championships, Larionov won four golds (1982, 1983, 1986, 1989), one silver (1987), and one bronze (1985). He was an instrumental member of the Soviet squad that won the 1981 Canada Cup.