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NHL: Bure retires to lead Russia's Olympic team

Posted on: Tuesday, 1 November 2005, 10:14 CST

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.

Source: REUTERS

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