Stanislav Chistov -- From Siberia to the NHL

Back home in Russia, Stanislav Chistov is compared to three Russian NHL players: Pavel Bure of the Rangers, Sergei Samsonov of the Boston Bruins and Alexander Mogilny of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

But Chistov (pronounced CHEESE-TOV), who is a rookie for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, almost didn't make it to the NHL. In fact, his story would make a great spy novel, and none of it would be fiction.

Chistov was playing in Siberia for his local home team, Avangard Omsk, and had injured his knee and planned to spend time in North America doing some rehabilitation. His coaches had other ideas.

They informed Chistov that not only was he a hockey player, but he was a member of the Russian army as well. If he left, he'd be considered a deserter.

No problem, thought Stanlislav, I'll just return to my team and rehabilitate in Russia. Once again the plot thickened.

While playing with Omsk against the Red Army team in Moscow, he was taken from his hotel room and told he had to join the Red Army team, and while his coaches at Omsk weren't too happy, what could they say.

In the old Soviet Union, the Red Army hockey team was numero uno, sending many current Soviet players to the NHL. Since then, nothing has changed.

Then, as now, the Soviet Red Army team is the premiere league in Russian hockey and if they said you would play for them, you played for them. It's sort of like your child playing basketball for Public School 57 in the USA, and he's so good that the Los Angeles Lakers offer him a contract. What would you do?

So Chistov, who came from a family of factory workers who cared little for sports, decided to do the right thing and go with the Red Army team. Yes, he was that good of a hockey player.

Then in 2001, the Mighty Ducks selected him as their first choice in the 2001 NHL draft.

Most European players have trouble adjusting to the North American style of hockey. Not Chistov, whose English is quite good.

Chistov, who is a bit of a jokester in the locker room, has been playing very well so far this year. So good, in fact, that Mighty Duck head coach, Mike Babcock isn't afraid of putting him on a line with top Anaheim players Paul Kariya and Adam Oates. He's even used him on the power play.

Not bad for someone who almost didn't make it to the NHL, and whose life had more twists and turns than a James Bond novel just a few short years ago.