Andrey Mezin is one of the most popular Belarusian hockey players. During his long career, the goalkeeper has won many trophies. Hockey fans will remember this outstanding goalkeeper for a long time. Mezin Andrey, whose photo was often published by the media, was always distinguished by modesty and serious attitude to the game.
Carier start
Andrei Mezin was born in 1974 in the city of Chelyabinsk. At the age of 6, Andrei was taken to hockey in the children's school by the Tractor team. This goalkeeper was never among the stars that were trained for the main team. After graduating from school, he spent one year as part of the Polytechnic student team. At the end of the season, the team refused him and the goalkeeper decided to try his hand at the team from the city of Novopolotsk. Andrei was supported in this by his older brother, who at that time was coaching the Khimik club. Perhaps it was thanks to the support of his brother, Andrei Mezin became a professional player.
Professional career
Before moving to Belarus, Andrei Mezin thought about ending his career. "Maybe it's better to start studying hard?" he often thought. But still I decided to try myself in sports. As soon as Mezin began to speak for a new club, he was drafted into the army. There he spent about two weeks as an ordinary ordinary soldier. And after that, the goalkeeper began to be regularly attracted to play in various tournaments. Upon his return, Mezin began his professional ascent at the Khimik 2 club in the debut hockey championship for Belarus. The statistics of this goalkeeper was terrible. Over the past six games, he missed 55 goals. It was not only Andrey Mezin who was to blame, but the whole team, which was recruited from amateurs.
Moving overseas
After the unsuccessful season ended, Mezina was brought with an agent who helped the goalkeeper go overseas. In the American Youth League, the goalkeeper spent 5 years. In the same club, many rising stars played with him, such as Ruslan Salei, Pavol Demitra, Sergey Stas, etc. Despite the many games held in the championship and the playoffs, Mezin could not light up in the NHL. This player decided to continue his career in Germany.
Continuing a career in the German Hockey Championship
Andrey Anatolyevich Mezin spent the 1998-1999 season at the Nuremberg Ice Tigers club. The season in which the Goalkeeper defended the goal with a total of 62 games was extremely successful. His team became the silver medalist of the German championship. Mezin made a great contribution to such a high achievement of the club. Subsequently, this talented goalkeeper joined the team of “Berlin Capitals”. For the three seasons spent in this club, Mezin participated in 174 games. The goalkeeper with his team could not achieve much success.
Continuation of the game abroad
During the time spent in Germany, Mezin became known in many leagues. This goalkeeper was noticed by Kazan “Ak Bars” and invited him to his place. However, in Tatarstan, Andrei was not allowed to play. For the whole season he stood at the gate only one game. After the failure in the Russian championship, the goalkeeper decided to return to Germany to the Kassel club. A contract has already been signed, but at the last moment the athlete received a knee injury. Because of this, Mezin was forced to spend a lot of time on treatment. The club was unhappy and terminated the contract with him. Mezin had to give up hockey for half a season. Only in the off-season did he sign a contract with the Czech club České Budějovice. In this club the goalkeeper played 15 matches.
Return to the Russian championship
In the 2004-2005 season, St. Petersburg club SKA took advantage of Mezin's services. There, the goalkeeper often went out on the ice, showing a high-level game. At the end of the season, Andrei signed a contract with the Salavat Yulaev club. The Belarusian goalkeeper for this club played a total of 66 games. In the last season of the Super League, Mezin played for Magnitogorsk Metallurg. It was in this team that Mezin began his journey in the KHL. In the second season, Andrei played 32 games for the Magnitogorsk club. In 2008, this goalkeeper signed a contract with Dynamo Minsk. He played in the Belarusian team until 2012. At the end of his playing career, Mezin was in such clubs as Lokomotiv, Tractor and Vanguard.
For the country
Mezin has been the main goalkeeper of the Belarus national team for many years. This goalkeeper spent 86 games, playing for the national team at the World Championships and the Olympic Games. Four times Andrei became the best hockey player in his country.
Retirement
Many fans will remember such a great goalkeeper as Andrei Mezin. At first, his biography was rather difficult, but despite this, he found the strength for growth. The career of Andrei Mezin, no doubt, was a success. Even closer to the sunset of active sports activity, this goalkeeper showed decent statistics. He is the oldest player to ever marry Belarus. After completing his successful career, Andrey Mezin began working as a coach. In 2014, Andrei began to work with the great coach Vladimir Krikunov. And then he was invited to the coaching staff of the Belarusian team. There, Mezin is respected and counts on his experience.