Vladislav Tretiak, who led the Soviet Union to three Winter Olympic gold medals as arguably the greatest goaltender in the history of the sport, will try to win a fourth as general manager of the Russian entry in the upcoming 2010 Games in Vancouver.

His appointment was announced by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation. Tretiak, who is also president of the federation, will try to lead Russia to its first Olympic gold since 1992.

"Tretiak is a highly respected person in Canada where the Olympic Games will be held. And he is very popular in other countries too," the federation's director, Valeri Fesyuk, told the newspaper Sport-Express. "His resume is beyond reproach."

Tretiak, 57, was born in Moscow and is the most decorated ice hockey Olympian in the history of the Games. He won gold in 1972, 1976 and 1984, and silver in 1980. Tretiak first came to prominence during the fabled 1972 Summit Series between the Soviets and Canada.

He also won numerous International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships and Soviet and European Cups. The only stage Tretiak did not excel on was the NHL, a dream he was forbidden from pursing by the Soviet regime. On June 8, 1983, the Montreal Canadiens selected Tretiak in the seventh round, No. 138, of the Entry Draft at the Montreal Forum. Though he wanted to come to North America, the Soviet Army would not grant his release, so he retired at age 31, a few months after winning gold at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. His final game was a 2-0 victory against rival Czechoslovakia.

Tretiak was last involved in the Olympics as Russia's goaltending coach at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. Russia captured the bronze medal.

He was the first Soviet inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, an honor he received in 1989. The IIHF inducted Tretiak into its Hall of Fame in 1997. He was also named the Goalkeeper of the Century on the Centennial All-Star Team, which was presented during the IIHF's 100-year anniversary celebration in 2008. In 2000 he was selected as the Russian player of the 20th century.

Tretiak was the goaltending coach of the Chicago Blackhawks in the late 1990s and was a mentor to Ed Belfour, third on the NHL's all-time wins list. Belfour wore No. 20 in honor of Tretiak.

Tretiak has served as president of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation since April 25, 2006. He has also been a member of the Russian Parliament following the 2003 and 2007 elections.

The Russian entry will be coached by Vyacheslav Bykov and assistant coach Igor Zakharkin.

In its Olympic history, Russia has medaled 12 times in 14 tournaments. The hockey giant is coming off a fourth place showing at the 2006 Games but is currently first in the International Ice Hockey Federation's world rankings.

Contact Rocky Bonanno at rbonanno@nhl.com

* With information from the International Ice Hockey Federation Web site