langdak
11-01-2005, 12:35 PM
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/news/story.html?id=3342c900-5e30-401d-b113-865e5dc40975
http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=141598&hubname=
Russian Rocket retires and takes over Olympic hockey team
Canadian Press
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
MOSCOW (CP) - Pavel Bure was named general manager of Russia's Olympic hockey team Tuesday after announcing his retirement as a player.
The Russian Rocket, felled by serious knee injuries, announced his decision at a news conference in Moscow. Alexander Steblin, the head of the Russian Hockey Federation, announced that Bure would assemble the team headed to February's Turin Olympics.
"I can promise you one thing, from now on you won't see such a mess with the national team that you've seen here before," Bure told reporters.
"You won't see grouchy players here anymore. Only those who really want to play for Russia will be called into the team."
The Russians have had a hard time assembling rosters in international play in recent years as current NHLers fought with the old guard in management. Bure's arrival on the scene may help Russia field a stronger team in Turin.
But Canadiens star and Russian team veteran Alexei Kovalev wasn't sure about that when asked for his reaction Tuesday.
"I don't know how it's going to be," Kovalev told reporters in Montreal. "For me it's kind of unusual seeing a young person being general manager of the national team. We'll see what happens. I can't tell anything right now.
"Everybody knew he would retire, for me it doesn't really matter who is the general manager of the team," Kovalev added. "I don't have to deal with him. I'm just a player and he's the general manager."
Russian press officer Seva Kukushkin told The Canadian Press that Bure would likely head to North America later this week to scout NHL games and speak with Russian players. Kukushkin said Bure could be on hand Saturday in New York when the Rangers host the New Jersey Devils.
Bure, 34, has not played since he injured his right knee in March 2003. Once one of the game's most gifted goal-scorers, he led the NHL with 59 goals with the Florida Panthers in 2000-01 and 58 goals the season before, also with Florida. He also had back-to-back 60-goal seasons with the Vancouver Canucks in 1992-93 and 1993-94.
"There comes a time when you have to make a decision and move on," Bure said.
The Canucks drafted Bure 113th overall in the 1989 draft. He immediately paid dividends once in Vancouver, collecting 60 points (34-26) in 65 games in 1991-92, his rookie NHL season. He also led the Canucks to the 1994 Stanley Cup final where Vancouver lost in seven games to the New York Rangers.
Bure also helped Russia win Olympic silver at the 1998 Nagano Games. He scored an Olympic record five goals in a 7-4 semifinal victory over Finland. He also collected a bronze medal with Russia in 2002 at Salt Lake City.
"When I played I only strived to be the best, to win the gold and that's what I'm planning to achieve here as general manager," Bure said.
Bure ends his NHL career with 437 goals and 342 assists in 702 career regular-season games. He added 35 goals and 35 assists in 64 playoff games.
© The Canadian Press 2005
http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=141598&hubname=
Russian Rocket retires and takes over Olympic hockey team
Canadian Press
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
MOSCOW (CP) - Pavel Bure was named general manager of Russia's Olympic hockey team Tuesday after announcing his retirement as a player.
The Russian Rocket, felled by serious knee injuries, announced his decision at a news conference in Moscow. Alexander Steblin, the head of the Russian Hockey Federation, announced that Bure would assemble the team headed to February's Turin Olympics.
"I can promise you one thing, from now on you won't see such a mess with the national team that you've seen here before," Bure told reporters.
"You won't see grouchy players here anymore. Only those who really want to play for Russia will be called into the team."
The Russians have had a hard time assembling rosters in international play in recent years as current NHLers fought with the old guard in management. Bure's arrival on the scene may help Russia field a stronger team in Turin.
But Canadiens star and Russian team veteran Alexei Kovalev wasn't sure about that when asked for his reaction Tuesday.
"I don't know how it's going to be," Kovalev told reporters in Montreal. "For me it's kind of unusual seeing a young person being general manager of the national team. We'll see what happens. I can't tell anything right now.
"Everybody knew he would retire, for me it doesn't really matter who is the general manager of the team," Kovalev added. "I don't have to deal with him. I'm just a player and he's the general manager."
Russian press officer Seva Kukushkin told The Canadian Press that Bure would likely head to North America later this week to scout NHL games and speak with Russian players. Kukushkin said Bure could be on hand Saturday in New York when the Rangers host the New Jersey Devils.
Bure, 34, has not played since he injured his right knee in March 2003. Once one of the game's most gifted goal-scorers, he led the NHL with 59 goals with the Florida Panthers in 2000-01 and 58 goals the season before, also with Florida. He also had back-to-back 60-goal seasons with the Vancouver Canucks in 1992-93 and 1993-94.
"There comes a time when you have to make a decision and move on," Bure said.
The Canucks drafted Bure 113th overall in the 1989 draft. He immediately paid dividends once in Vancouver, collecting 60 points (34-26) in 65 games in 1991-92, his rookie NHL season. He also led the Canucks to the 1994 Stanley Cup final where Vancouver lost in seven games to the New York Rangers.
Bure also helped Russia win Olympic silver at the 1998 Nagano Games. He scored an Olympic record five goals in a 7-4 semifinal victory over Finland. He also collected a bronze medal with Russia in 2002 at Salt Lake City.
"When I played I only strived to be the best, to win the gold and that's what I'm planning to achieve here as general manager," Bure said.
Bure ends his NHL career with 437 goals and 342 assists in 702 career regular-season games. He added 35 goals and 35 assists in 64 playoff games.
© The Canadian Press 2005