Pavel Torgayev

Pavel Torgayev (born January 25, 1966 in Gorky, USSR) is a retired Russian ice hockey player who played 55 games in the National Hockey League for the Calgary Flames and Tampa Bay Lightning. An 11th round draft pick by the Flames, 279th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, Torgayev had been playing pro in his native Russia since 1982.

Playing career

Torgayev spent 12 seasons in the Soviet League before moving to Finland for two years in 1993. After being drafted by the Flames, Torgayev came to North America, where he appeared in 41 regular season games with the Flames in 1995–96, recording six goals and ten assists in 41 games. After returning to Europe to play in Switzerland for three seasons, Torgayev once again returned to the NHL in 1999–00, Torgayev appeared in nine more games with the Flames before being claimed by Tampa Bay on waivers. After playing five more games with the Lightning, he refused an assignment to the minor leagues, and returned to Russia, where he remained until his retirement following the 2004–05 season.

Torgayev represented his nation internationally several times. He was a member of the bronze medal winning Soviet team at the 1985 World Junior Hockey Championships. Torgayev was also a member of the Russian squad at the 1994 Winter Olympics, scoring two goals as the Russians finished fourth. In 1995, he again represented Russia at the Ice Hockey World Championships.

References

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*legendsofhockey|11364