NHL: Bure retires to hear Russia’s Olympic team

MOSCOW (Reuters) – NHL All-Star Pavel Bure officially
announced his retirement from hockey on Tuesday to take over as
general manager of the Russian Olympic team.

Russian hockey chief Alexander Steblin said Bure would lead
the team at February’s Turin Olympics.

Bure, nicknamed the Russian Rocket for his explosive speed
and firepower, has not played since he injured his right knee
in March 2003.

“There comes a time when you have to make a decision and
move on,” said the 34-year-old right winger, one of the most
feared goalscorers of his generation.

Bure twice won the Maurice Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top
goalscorer, notching 58 goals in 2000 and 59 in 2001. He also
achieved back-to-back 60-goal seasons in 1993 and 1994.

As captain, Bure led Russia to a silver medal at the 1998
Nagano Games by scoring an Olympic record five goals in a 7-4
semi-final victory over Finland.

He also helped his country win an Olympic bronze four years
later in Salt Lake City.