Victor Nechayev (born January 28, 1955) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player who played three games for the Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League.
[1] He was the first player from the Soviet Union to play in the NHL, as well as the first to score a goal.
A native of Siberia, Nechayev met Cheryl Haigler, an American citizen, in Switzerland in 1976, while he was playing for the Red Army team.
[2] In April 1982, Nechayev was granted permission to join his wife in the United States.
Unlike other Soviet players, Nechayev was able to join the team immediately, since he was already living in North America at the time he was drafted.