Yuri Kuznetsov (ice hockey, born 1965)

Yuri Kuznetsov (Russian Юрий Кузнецов, born 31 January 1965) is a Russian former ice hockey player.

Early career in Russia
Kuznetsov started his professional career in 1985, playing in Russia for Krylya Sovetov Moscow of the Soviet Hockey League and of the Vysshaya Liga until 1993.

Finland
After one year in Swedish Elitserien, he joined HIFK in the SM-liiga, where he played for 3 seasons. At the beginning of the 1997–1998 season he moved to SaiPa where Kuznetsov stayed for nearly five seasons. During the middle of the 2001–02 season, Kuznetsov left SaiPa and returned to his homeland and the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl after nine years spent abroad.

Overall, Kuznetsov played in 388 matches in SM-liiga and scored 53 goals, 119 assists and 172 points. He collected 305 penalty minutes. Kuznetsov belonged to the best defenders of the league, scoring 36 points in each of the seasons 1999–2000 and 2000–2001.

Retirement
After half of a season in Russia, Kuznetsov returned to Finland to play the 2002–2003 season for Hokki in Mestis, which was the final year of his career.