Aleksandr Pavlovich Ragulin / Александр Павлович Рагулин - Born May 5, 1941 in Moscow, Moskva, Republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics / USSR – Died November 17 2004 in Moscow, Moskva, Russia was a Russian ice Hockey defenseman and coach.

Ragulin began playing ice Hockey in 1957 with Khimik Voskrosensk.

In 1962 he moved to CSKA Moscow (Red Army Team), playing there until the end of his competitive career in 1973, winning nine Soviet titles (1963-66, 1968, 1970-73), and five European Champions Cup titles (1969-73) with CSKA.

During his 13 years (1960-73) with the Soviet National team, Ragulin played 239 games and scored 29 goals. He won three Olympic Gold medals ((1964, 1968 and 1972), 10 World Championships (1963-71 and 1973), and nine European Championships (1963-70 and 1973). In addition to his titles, Ragulin won silver (1972) and bronze (1961) at the World Championships and three silvers (1961, 1971, 1972) at the European Championships, and was selected as the best defenseman of the 1966 World Championships.

Ragulin earned the nickname the "Russian Bear" for his bulky stature and rugged play.

In 1972 he played 6 out of 8 games of the legendary Summit Series between Canada and Soviet Union, and later said " The coaches gave me the unenviable task of covering Phil Esposito. He was a different kind of centre for me - very big, very strong, always in the slot. Ours was a battle of two huge bears."

After retiring, Ragulin became a Hockey coach with CSKA Moskva sports school and was later a coach of SKA Novosibirsk.

In Russia, Ragulin was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1972), the Badge of Honor - twice (1965, 1969), the Order of Honor (1996) and the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", Ribbon of the Order 3rd class (2001).

In 1997, Alexander Ragulin was inducted into the International Hockey Hall of Fame of the International Ice Hockey Federation / IIHF. "Alexander Ragulin personified the Russian bear," said Rene Fasel, president of the IIHF. "He was the kind of player that no forward really wanted to confront in the corner or in front of the Soviet net.

Ragulin received the Silver Order of the International Olympic Committee in 2001; honorary sign "For merits in the development of the Olympic movement in Russia."

Since 2002, the annual All-Russian tournament of young Hockey players is held in the town of Sudogda, Vladimir Region, and since 2005, in memory of Aleksandr Ragulin.

Since 2012, the St. Petersburg Ice Hockey Federation has been holding the International Children's Ice Hockey Tournament in honor of A.P. Ragulin.