NHL: Bure retires to lead Russia’s Olympic team

By Gennady Fyodorov

MOSCOW (Reuters) – NHL All-Star Pavel Bure officially
announced his retirement 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.

He has made several unsuccessful attempts to resume his
career before finally deciding to hang up his skates for good.

“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.

“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 any more. Only those
who really want to play for Russia will be called into the
team.”

The Russians have in the past suffered internal squabbles
and player boycotts in major international competitions, such
as world championships and World Cups.

Russia, a hockey superpower in the old Soviet days with a
record 23 world championships and eight Olympic gold medals,
have not won a world title since 1993.

“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.