Hockey Hall of Famer and former Washington Capitals center, Sergei Fedorov, was honored by CSKA Moscow on December 19.
The team, nicknamed the Red Army, raised Fedorov’s name and number 18 to the rafters at CSKA Arena ahead of its 5-4 win over Spartak.
During the ceremony, Fedorov was joined on the ice by his wife Corrina and two children. CSKA had the legendary forward drop the ceremonial first puck before the game.
CSKA also played in specially designed jerseys. “The basis for the alternative kit was the CSKA uniform of the 1988-89 season,” wrote the team in a release per a Google Translation. “It was in these sweaters that the army team became national champions for the 32nd time in their history.”
The team also dedicated the game to “Fedorov’s 55th anniversary” — the three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Detroit Red Wings celebrated his 55th birthday a week before on December 13.
Fedorov played four seasons for CSKA as a player while the team was part of the Soviet Championship League. Fedorov, during his age 16 through 19 seasons, posted 41 goals, 33 assists, and 74 points in 169 games for CSKA, winning three consecutive Soviet League Championships in 1986–87, 1987–88, and 1988–89.
After his playing career ended, Fedorov returned to the team as a head coach from July 2021 to May 2024. Under his leadership, CSKA won consecutive Gagarin Cups in 2022 and 2023, and Fedorov was twice recognized as the KHL’s best coach.
Speaking to Match TV, Fedorov said that he spends much of his free time with his family now that he’s no longer coaching.
“Of course, I follow my favorite team,” Fedorov said to Match TV per a Google Translation. “But now I am mostly busy with family responsibilities. I haven’t disappeared or vanished. I’m here. When is the next [coaching job]? I don’t know yet.”
CSKA’s banner ceremony for Fedorov comes as his former teammate with the Red Wings, Chris Chelios, spoke about how Fed’s number 91 should be retired in Detroit as well. The last number the Red Wings retired was Nicklas Lidstrom’s number 5 in February 2014.
“For me it’s hard to believe (it’s not retired yet),” Chelios said. “He was such a great teammate. I was there for two of the Cups with him, he won three. Just the way he skated was stealth. He could carry the team . He played forward. Scotty (Bowman) put him on defense. He was just a natural and such a great kid. In the locker room, no one worked harder than him. That’s shocking it’s not there yet but I hope it gets in there because he deserves more than anybody.”
Since leaving North America for Russia, Fedorov has remained supportive of Alex Ovechkin, his teammate in Washington for the final two seasons of his NHL career.
When asked if Ovechkin would break Wayne Gretzky’s goals record in the summer of 2023, Fedorov said, “My answer is this. I want to wish Sasha good health, self-confidence, and great support from his loving family. Everything else is secondary. But, what you asked me, I think it will happen.”
