Григорий Пантелеев

Позиция - левый нападающий.
Дата рождения - 13 ноября 1972 года
Место рождения - г. Гастелло, СССР
Рост - 180 см
Вес - 86 кг
Драфт - был выбран 136-м на драфте 1992 года командой "Бостон Брюинз"
Обмены/Переходы - имея статус свободного агента, подписал контракт с "Нью-Йорк Айлендерс" 20 сентября 1995 года.

Начинал играть за хоккейный клуб из Риги в 1990-92 гг - 49 игр, 8 голов, 9 результативных передач. После потери места в НХЛ, остался в Америке и продолжил свою карьеру во вторых лигах. Лучший сезон в 1995-96 гг - в 62 играх за Юту и Лас-Вегас в ИХЛ набрал 72 очка (26+46). В сезоне 1997-98 гг забросил 29 шайб и сделал 42 голевые передачи в 82 играх за Сан-Антонио и Орландо в ИХЛ.

В 1999-2000 гг перебрался в Германию, затем в 2000-01 гг в Швецию. Постоянно выступал за сборную Латвию на международных турнирах, включая Олимпийские Игры 2002 года (4 матча, 2 гола).

В середине, второй половине 2000-х продолжил колесить по Европе, играя в Швейцарии, Финляндии, России, снова Швейцарии, Италии, Германии. 
 

Grigori Panteleev was on top of the world when he returned home to Russia last summer.

His rookie season in North American professional hockey, most of which was spent in Providence but which included three months in Boston, had been a success.

He had earned a decent salary with Providence. In Boston, he was paid at a rate that would have earned him $155,000 for the entire year.

He certainly had more money in his pocket than he'd had when he came to the United States in August of 1992. Considering the state of the Russian economy, that money would go a long way.

Some of his countrymen took note of that.

And soon after he arrived home, Panteleev was contacted by a group of people who wanted some of that money. Dealing through a third party, they issued not-so-veiled threats against him and his family if he didn't pay for "protection.".

Panteleev wasn't the only Russian player who was strong-armed during the offseason.

With their country making the difficult transition from a Communist to a capitalist economy, Russian athletes who earn even the lowest of National Hockey League salaries have become targets of extortionist groups.

Pavel Bure of the Vancouver Canucks, Alexei Zhitnik of the Los Angeles Kings, Viacheslav Fetisov of the New Jersey Devils . . . all reportedly have been contacted and threatened by organized-crime groups while home in Russia.

And they aren't the only ones. It's widely thought that many other players who have been contacted have kept quiet for fears their families or friends would be harmed.

"It happens a lot," Panteleev said, "I heard with Bure, the Mafia in Moscow asked him for money and if he didn't (pay), his family couldn't go back to the United States."

Some players have referred to the extortionists as the Russian Mafia. But Panteleev says that while organized crime exists in Russia, the people who approached him do not belong to the type of crime group that people are familiar with in the United States.

"You call them Mafia, but they're not, really," he says, blaming the confusion on the difficult translations between the Russian and English languages. "If you will, rather, (they are) a group that makes money that way."

'It's like the Wild West'

Organized crime existed in Russia before the recent change in government. Types range from the Azerbaijani mob in St. Petersburg, which is said to control agricultural markets and money-changing businesses, and the powerful Chechen mob in Moscow, which deals in almost everything.

"In Georgia, they are called Black People," Panteleev said. "They want to make money and they don't care about who you are or how many children you have."

"The situation in Russia is like the Wild West," Ron Salcer, who is the agent for Zhitnik and Bure, told the Washington Post. "If you have hard currency, you're a target."

Tod Hartje of the Providence Bruins spent the 1990-91 season with Sokol Kiev of the Russian Elite League and was a teammate of both Zhitnik and Dmitri Kristitch, who currently plays for the Washington Capitals. Hartje says that while some players may readily admit to being coerced, some others will deny it because they are afraid.

"I haven't heard any talk among them, but I don't know if they'd want to," he said. "Some of them say they didn't and they didn't, but if some did, they may not be saying anything to protect themselves."

Hartje says that most of what he knows of the incidents are from what he's heard through the media, but he isn't surprised that it happens.

"It looks as if the businessmen aren't doing that well, so it's a natural way for the mobs to make money," he said.

Zhitnik told the Los Angeles Times that he was threatened with a car bomb. But he says he refused to pay.

"If you pay the first time," he said, "the next time you pay much more."

Mike Smith, the general manager of the Winnipeg Jets, says the four former Soviet players on his team's roster have not been approached by groups during the offseason.

News of the incidents has general managers concerned. But Smith, who has studied Russian history extensively and was the pioneer in sending Hartje to Russia, isn't too alarmed.

"I think it is happening less and less, rather than more and more," Smith said.

He adds that such behavior is something Russian citizens are used to.

The former Soviet government, Smith says, used to rule "by intimidation and coercion. Now it's just splintered," he said, adding that many of the mob groups are run by unemployed members of the KGB.

'There is a concern'

The Russians may be used to it, but North Americans clearly aren't.

"All general mangers are appalled that it's happening," said Smith.

"This is 1930s Chicago stuff," Dean Lombardi, the general manager of the San Jose Sharks, told the Los Angeles Times.

"There is a concern," adds Jack Ferreira, general manager of the Mighty Ducks.

But until the problem surfaces in the U.S., the general managers say they are powerless.

'I really don't know what type of control we'd have," said Ferreira. "It's a problem for the Russian government, but who do you talk to over there? Unless (the extortionists) appear over here, I don't know what we can do as a league."

One thing everyone is trying to do is downplay the incidents. "The more it's publicized, it will give people ideas," said Ferreira.

Never paid a dime

Panteleev himself downplayed his incident. In fact, because he had friends of his own in Russia, he never paid a dime.

"I told friends to speak (to the extortionists)," he said.

Panteleev's "friends" consisted of former athletes, many of whom he played with and against, who are now trying to survive in a fledgling economy. These athletes, he said, ensure that such extortion groups "will never touch us."

"Nothing happened," Panteleev said. "I have friends who spoke with (the extortionists). There was no problem. Everything is fine."

Panteleev says he isn't worried about returning to Russia, insisting the situation is "not that bad."

Smith agrees. He says Russian society isn't fazed by such incidents.

"Wasn't that country," he points out, "ruled by a Mafia called the Communist Party?" 

6 декабря 1992 года. 
A success, in any language Panteleev's production speaks louder than words // Boston Globe 

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- With a wide smile and a right hand held up as if to surrender, Bruins rookie Grigori Panteleev waded gently into his first postgame news conference yesterday.

"I can't speak {English}," said Panteleev after he collected two goals in Boston's 4-2 win over the Devils. "Only easy questions . . . maybe."

Adam Oates, who helped set up Panteleev's second goal, was walking by as his new part-time linemate pleaded for easy queries.

"That's OK," a reassuring Oates shot his partner's way, "that's all they ask."

Following, then, are the bits and pieces of what the 20-year-old Russian rookie had to say about his one-day excellent adventure:

- "My first two goals in NHL . . . I feel great.

- "{The two pucks will go} in the best position for my apartment."

- "NHL very quick . . . everything. AHL a little slower."

- "{Oates}, he the best player . . . a very smart player."

OK, so it wasn't going to rival a Ted Koppel sit-down with Henry Kissinger, but the point came across.

"The toughest thing is, when you see something on the ice you want to correct, you can't," said Oates. "Otherwise, it doesn't matter. They're smart players, and after a while it's like a husband-wife relationship -- you know each other."

4 декабря 1992 года. 
Panteleev draws first duty with Boston // Boston Globe 

The Bruins turned to Page 2 of their Russian review last night, putting Grigori Panteleev in the lineup for their 4-3 win over Montreal.

First Dmitri Kvartalnov, now Panteleev. Once was the time when the cure to all hockey ailments in Boston was the best available Sweeney. Now in kinder, gentler times, it's the best available Russian.

"He's got explosive speed, the little bugger," said coach Brian Sutter, who had Panteleev figured for fourth-line duty, but had him playing mostly with Jozef Stumpel and Steve Leach on what looked like a promising second line. "He's only 5 feet 10 inches, but he's 200 pounds . . . a little fireplug out there."

Panteleev, who turned 20 in November, was one of four Russians the Bruins dispatched to Providence to start the season. He collected five points in the Baby Bruins' win over Halifax Sunday night and arrived here yesterday with marks of 9-20-29 in 23 AHL games.

"In camp, the biggest problem he had was adjusting to play without the puck," said Sutter. "He also wasn't in position to get it back, say, after losing it. There were times, too, when he'd have the puck and he'd make the extra move all the time rather than just shoot it."

Panteleev didn't pick up a point, landing one shot on net, a nice wrister off left wing at 15:22 of the second.

Part of the reason for bringing Panteleev to Boston was Rosie Ruzicka's troubling groin/hip injury. "Not good," said Ruzicka, asked his status shortly before game time.

Sutter, who typically downplays injuries, said he didn't believe Ruzicka's ailment was too serious. If Ruzicka is not hurting, it could be that Panteleev's presence is more a message to Ruzicka than simply a one-night replacement.

Ruzicka has proven a disappointing anchor on Boston's second line. A gifted offensive player, he has 19 points in 23 games, but is a minus-1 in the plus-minus category. The Bruins' front office looks at him and dreams of a 100-point season, but he produces at a 75- to 80-point pace. If his numbers don't pick up considerably, and soon, he would have to rate as the club's No. 1 trade commodity.

"Am I happy with the team?" said Boston president/general manager Harry Sinden. "I suppose you're never happy, but the question to answer is, would our team be able to beat Pittsburgh {the two-time Stanley Cup champion}? Right now I'd have to say no. I think we have to improve."

What's lacking? Sinden noted the lack of second-line scoring punch, and the ever-present need for another defenseman.