Hockey

Vladislav Tretiak, the most decorated hockey player at the Winter Olympic Games, has been handed the task of bringing the gold medal back to Russia in 2010.

The Russian Ice Hockey Federation has named Tretiak the General Manager in charge of putting together the squad which is expected to provide Canada it's biggest competition in the quest for the gold medal in Vancouver.

"Tretiak is a highly respected person in Canada where the Olympic Games will be held," Russian Ice Hockey Federation director Valeri Fesyuk tells Sport-Express. "His resume is beyond reproach."

The Russian side will be coached by Vyacheslav Bykov, who has guided the national team to gold medal victories in each of the last two World Championships. Each time, it has been at the expense of Canada.

Tretiak is no stranger to Olympic success, having won three gold medals with the Russian national side in 1972, 1976 and 1984 as well as a silver medal in 1980. Only compatriot Igor Kravchuk can boast a similar total, however, he only captured two gold medals.

In 2002, he was the goaltending coach of the Russian team which ended up winning the bronze medal in Salt Lake City. That is where Canada ended a 50 year gold medal drought.

Despite numerous Soviet league titles and 13 World Championship medals, Tretiak never realized his dream of playing in the National Hockey League, retiring at the age of 32 shortly after the 1984 Winter Olympics.

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989 - the first Russian hockey player to have been bestowed that honour.

Currently, Tretiak is president of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation.