Belarussian standout bounced around U.S.

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah -- The long, strange trip of Belarus goaltender Andrei Mezin, from minor-league bust to Olympic phenomenon, went through a team familiar to most Lightning fans: the Detroit Vipers.

Mezin played four games for the Vipers, who later became a Tampa Bay affiliate and ceased operations last year. His 2-1 record and 2.69 goals-against average in 1997-98 were respectable. His .852 save percentage was not.

He has done better in the Olympics.

Entering tonight's semifinal against Canada, the 27-year-old has a tournament-worst 4.98 goals-against average and an .878 save percentage. But he has a tournament-high 158 saves, 84 in the past two games and 44 Wednesday in an upset of Sweden.

"I remember him very well," former Vipers and Lightning general manager Rick Dudley said. "He has the ability to pull a game out of his hat. The problem was he couldn't do it consistently."

Mezin also had stints with the Flint Generals, with whom he was named to the United Hockey League's 1995-96 all-rookie team, the ECHL's Roanoke Express, IHL's Fort Wayne Komets and Las Vegas Thunder and AHL's Rochester Americans.

"I tried for five years to make it in the NHL," Mezin said. "It was always my dream. But I went to Europe because it was too tough for me to make it."

He is making it tough on his Olympic opponents.

"It's terrific," said Lightning goaltenders coach Jeff Reese, a teammate of Mezin's in Detroit. "He's facing the best shooters in the world. It's pretty fun to watch."

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