76 years since the birth of Vyacheslav Solodukhin

Vyacheslav Solodukhin, a bronze medalist of the USSR Championship with SKA, would today have turned 76 years of age.

Born in Leningrad, Vyacheslav was eventually invited to join SKA by legendary coach Nikolai Puchkov. Apart from his CSKA Moscow appearances during the capital club's series in North America, he spent virtually his entire professional career with SKA.

He scored 147 SKA goals across 399 official matches. Vyacheslav helped SKA claim domestic bronze in 1971, twice reach the final of the USSR Cup (1968, 1970) and win the Spengler Cup on three occasions (1970, 1971, 1977). 

On the international scene, he won bronze at the 1972 World Championship and participated in the Super Series of the same year.

Vyacheslav sadly passed away at the age of 29 on 10 December 1979. He was inducted into the SKA Hall of Fame on 15 February 2003.