Special to Sports News Highlights

(SNH) — When he played for the Detroit Red Wings, Defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov was known as the “Vladdy,” the “Vladinator,” or “Vlad the Impaler” and “The Red Shark.”

He was an absolute dominant force on the ice from 1991 to 1997 for the Red Wings. In the 1996-97 season, Konstantinov helped the Wings beat the Philadelphia Flyers that June to win the Stanley Cup in a four game sweep.

That season, Konstantinov played in 77 of 82 regular season games, scoring five goals and setting up another 33 for 38 points, his highest point total in his six-year NHL career. He was also a +38, plus/minus, as Konstantinov showed he was a truly rare and incredibly talented defenseman in the NHL. He played in 20 playoff games, including that 1997 Stanley Cup winning team.

After the Red Wings won the Cup, the party was on for Konstantinov and his teammates. The city of Detroit and the State of Michigan celebrated the Wings’ first Stanley Cup in 42 years and Konstantinov was a key piece of the team.

But, tragically, six days later the life and career of Vladimir Konstantinov would tragically change forever after a limousine ride on the night of June 13, 1997.

The Red Wings had decided to play golf and celebrate the Stanley Cup victory one last time as a team before the players went their separate ways for the summer.

Konstantinov, fellow Russian hockey legend, Slava Fetisov and team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov hired a limousine to drive them home. Unknown to them, the driver, Richard Gnida, had a suspended license for drunk driving. He lost control of the limousine and it hit a tree in the median of Woodward Avenue in Birmingham, Mich. The crash left Konstantinov with serious head injuries and paralysis, and he spent several weeks in a coma. Fetisov had relatively minor injuries and was able to play the next season. Mnatsakanov suffered head injures as well and spent some time in a coma. His recovery and injuries were even worse than Konstantinov’s.

It was national news when this happened and the entire hockey world was concerned for these “Hockeytown Heroes,” as they were referred to back in the late 90’s. That crash changed everything.

Konstantinov’s life has never been the same and his playing career was over. I’ve said it for years, and said it again recently during the broadcast of Konstantinov’s return to the ice: Vladimir Konstantinov in all likelihood would have been a surefire, first-ballot Hockey Hall of Fame player.

In the minds of many in the hockey world he is, and always will be, a Hall-of-Famer even though his incredibly bright career was cut short in that limousine crash in June of 1997.

The Emotional Return to the Ice

Last week at Big Boy Ice Arena in Fraser, Mich., hockey fans and thousands watching on TV got to see something that most thought would never happen: Vladimir Konstantinov, back on the ice to play a hockey game.

It really happened and there were not many dry eyes in the rink. I felt myself getting choked up some on the broadcast.

Konstantinov played for the Belle Tire Sled Hockey team, based in Detroit and coached by Derek Donet, and they played the New York Sled Rangers. The sled game was held prior to the Red Wings Alumni facing off against the New York Rangers Alumni. That game and the sled game were held to help raise money for the GH Pastor Foundation, an incredible Metro Detroit-based foundation, founded by John Pastor, that helps four charities:  The Children’s Miracle Network, epilepsy, down’s syndrome and autism. Last September’s Red Wings and Boston Bruins Alumni game helped raised over $30,000 dollars.

Vladdy and his return to the ice with Belle Tire Sled team all started and became possible when Joe Neville, who does an incredible job with the GH Pastor Foundation and the Red Wings Alumni in these charity events, made a couple of phone calls and asked if Vladdy could get on the ice in a sled to play hockey.

At first, those involved weren’t sure this was possible. Donet, the head coach of the sled team, got a call from Joe Neville who inquired if this was possible. Donet then sent a screenshot of a picture of Vladimir Konstantinov to longtime NHL skating coach and instructor Kim Muir and asked if anyone has ever seen Vladdy in a sled. From there, Neville, Donet and Muir collectively worked with Konstantinov’s family and physical therapist to make it all happen.

Making it happen

Vladdy was up for it and so was his family, physical therapist and all of those who pitched the idea to help Vladdy return to the ice.

Simply amazing.

From those initial phone calls and texts, it wasn’t long after that Konstantinov got into a sled with the team and was back on the ice, the very ice that gave him so much in his life and gave hockey fans in Detroit and around in the NHL so much joy watching him play in the 90’s.

 “I looked at Ashley (his wife) and said, `I can’t believe this is going to happen,’” Donet said. “Sled hockey is about helping people to play that never thought they could.”

Konstantinov was on the ice in the sled three times for practice sessions before he played in the game. The team got an hour of ice for him to practice. Donet’s daughter, 12-year old Skyler, was one of just a few players on the ice with Vladdy that first time. Skyler was born with spina bifida and plays on the team with several other kids and young adults with disabilities. But that does not in any way stop them from playing the game they love. These kids and young adults have the brightest and best attitudes I’ve ever seen from any athletes I’ve ever covered in 30 years in broadcasting. It’s refreshing and was just awesome to see.

The first time Konstantinov was on the ice, it lasted about 10 minutes. The second time Vladdy was really into it with the players on the Belle Tire team.

“The second time out, he loved it; we scrimmaged right away and he was right in the middle of it,” Donet said. “He remembered where his pads go. Then the third time he was really involved. We were on the ice for an hour and a half.”

Game day for Vladdy

On the morning of April 27, 2024, Vladimir Konstantinov came to the rink with his family and his care-group suited him up for the game. Vladdy was making his return to the ice, and it was a grand entrance.

The Belle Tire team and the New York Sled Rangers were both introduced and then it was Vladdy’s turn. He was introduced and the crowd in the arena went wild, chanting, “Vladdy, Vladdy, Vladdy, Vladdy” as assistant coach Matt Fleming pushed Vladdy in his sled from behind. It was emotional. It was such a sight to see, just an incredible couple of minutes as Fleming took Vladdy around the rink.

 

Vladimir Konstantinov on the ice
Vladimir Konstantinov on the ice Ben Holden / SNH

 

Vladdy was in his famous No. 16 Red Wings sweater that he wore in in the 90’s when he played for the Red Wings. He played for two periods of the game, then he was taken off the ice to nothing but cheers and more chants of “Vladdy, Vladdy, Vladdy.”

Belle Tire won the game on a late goal by Jesus Villa, a young man who has a legitimate shot to make the U.S. Paralympic Sled hockey team; he’s very talented. The final score was 5-4 in favor of Belle Tire.

Vladimir Konstantinov and all the players in the game gave everyone there and those watching the game memories to hold on to forever. For a few minutes on that April afternoon, 27 years after he last played for the Red Wings, the beloved Vladimir Konstantinov was back on the ice and it was beautiful. So incredibly beautiful.  

Hockey. The beautiful game.

 

Detroit Red Wings great Vladimir Konstantinov at the at Big Boy Arena in Fraser, MI.
Detroit Red Wings great Vladimir Konstantinov at the at Big Boy Arena in Fraser, MI. Ben Holden / SNH

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