50 Forgotten Stories: Spies, System & Victor Netchaev

In May 1985, ex-King Victor Netchaev was called by federal prosecutors to testify against Svetlana Ogorodnikova, the Soviet "femme fatale" who allegedly turned FBI agent Richard Miller. Miller would become the first FBI agent to be convicted of espionage.
This capped off a strange American trip for Netchaev. A trailblazer in his own right, the centerman was the first Soviet national to play in the NHL, debuting for Los Angeles against the New York Islanders in Nassau Coliseum on October 16, 1982.

The next night, Netchaev wristed a puck past Steve Weeks in a 5-3 win. "The Russian really has a great shot," admitted the New York Rangers netminder. ("Soviet Skater Scores Goal." The Associated Press, October 18, 1982.) His prospects seemed bright. According to reports, he "was impressive against the Rangers and would
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Sheng Peng is a freelance hockey writer based out of Los Angeles, California. He covers the LA Kings and Ontario Reign for Today's Slapshot. His work has also appeared on VICE Sports, The Hockey News, and SB Nation's Jewels from the Crown.