Neil Belland

This is Neil Belland. He was a part time defenseman with the Vancouver Canucks during the 1980s. He played 109 games in his career, scoring 13 goals, 32 assists and 45 points. He was a skilled puck mover and mobile skater, but had trouble handling the bigger NHL forwards. I remember more than a few occasions when Edmonton's Mark Messier unceremoniously running right over the 180lb Belland, funky moustache and all.

Belland was a late bloomer. Never drafted, the Canucks signed him in 1980 and let him develop in junior with the Kingston Canadiens.

Belland turned pro in 1981-82, and played really well in the minor leagues. With injuries decimating the Canucks blue line he was called up and surprised many with his solid play. In fact Belland dressed for all 17 of the Canucks playoff games as the advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup final for the first time in franchise history.

Expectations for Belland were greatly elevated after that strong rookie campaign, and he never really lived up to them. Over the next four season Belland was up and down between the Canucks and minor leagues, never really cementing a full time job with the Canucks notoriously weak blue line.

In 1993, while playing his fifth season of pro hockey in Austria, Belland suffered a serious injury to his right hand when an errant skate sliced him so severely that he had to retire. He tried his hand (no pun intended) at coaching before becoming a constable with the Toronto city police.

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Trevor Linden

Before you read this, I must confess: Trevor Linden may be my favorite player of all time.

I grew up watching hockey on the west coast in the 1980s. The Edmonton Oilers reigned supreme back then, and Wayne Gretzky was everybody's favorite. I also had a serious infatuation with Soviet hockey players long before they were allowed to play in the NHL.

I quickly became a pretty sophisticated fan of the entire league. And I've always had the history bug, allowing me to respect the legends that preceded my time.

But I was always a Vancouver Canucks fan, which was anything but easy for most of the 1980s. It was not until Trevor Linden's arrival that I finally had someone to truly admire. No disrespect to Tony Tanti, my other favorite Canuck of the 80s, but in so many ways Trevor Linden became the player I admired most.

In comparison to Gretzky and the Soviets, Linden may seem an odd choice. Linden was not flashy or high skilled, not a great scorer or a flawless skater. He was essentially a hard worker, the personification of selflessness, an unquantifiable hockeyist who excelled in intangibles, effort and class.

He was also a great person - the kind of person we all want to be. Perhaps that drew me to him as much as his hockey. His charity efforts, his tireless effort on the ice, and his genuine likability off of it.

I had first heard of Trevor Linden back when he was still in junior. Not being located anywhere near a WHL team at the time, Linden may have been the first junior superstar I had really learned of. So when Linden came to Vancouver, so too did a lot hope, at least in my heart.

I was not disappointed. And, by no small coincidence, probably for the first time of an adolescence of hockey, I truly realized just how much I loved this game.

Eye of the Tigers

Trevor Linden was drafted 2nd overall in the 1988 entry draft after leading his hometown Medicine Hat Tigers to 2 consecutive Memorial Cup Championships. He was also played a major part as an international member of Canada's gold medal-winning team at 1988 World Junior Championships.

The following season Trevor not only made the NHL, but was an instant success. As the youngest player in the entire NHL, Trevor would play a dogged physical game while setting a then-team rookie record of 30 goals, including a couple of hat tricks. His trophy case quickly filled as he won the Cyclone Taylor award (Canucks MVP- first rookie to win) and Molson Cup (most three star selections). He was also named as The Hockey News' rookie of the year, however he finished as runner-up to Brian Leetch for the NHL's Calder Trophy.

The 1989-90 saw Trevor slip slightly into the dreaded "sophomore jinx." The season was ended with a separated shoulder injury. Trevor recorded 20 goals and 31 assists.

The 1990-91 season saw him rebound as he was named as one of the 'tri-captains' with Dan Quinn and Stan Smyl, whom Linden credited, along with Harold Snepsts, as his mentor. One of his best nights of his career occurred on Dec 20 vs. Edmonton when he scored 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists) in one game. Linden was also the youngest player at the NHL all star game. Although the Canucks missed the playoffs, Trevor was asked to represent Canada at World Championships in Finland and was also invited to Team Canada tryouts at Canada Cup '91.

Captain Canuck

Before the beginning of the 1991-92 season, Linden was named as the new team captain, making him the youngest captain in the National Hockey League. The 21 year old Linden would go on to lead the team in scoring for the 2nd straight year. It also was the first season of Canuck dominance. Captain Canuck guided the team to a 42-26-12 record. The 96 points gave the Canucks their first Smythe Division title since 1975. The following season Linden would lead the team to another 1st place finish based on a 46-29-9 record for the team's first 100+ point season.

The 1994 Stanley Cup

Linden led the Canucks to the team's greatest moment in 1994 - game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. After a relatively disappointing 85 point, 2nd place finish, the Canucks caught fire in the playoffs. After falling behind 3-1 in the opening round against Calgary, the Canucks stormed back to win 4 games to 3 and then would blow by Dallas and Toronto to face Mark Messier, Mike Keenan and the New York Rangers. Lead by Linden's leadership and physical play, Pavel Bure's goal scoring and Kirk McLean's incredible goaltending, the Canucks took the Rangers to 7 games. The final game was as close as could possibly be. Had Nathan Lafeyette's shot hit the inside of the goalpost instead of the outside, perhaps the Canucks could have forced overtime. Unfortunately, the Canucks would lose game 7 by a score of 3 goals to 2, both scored by Trevor Linden.

1995-96 would prove to be Trevor's best season statistically as he would set career highs in goals (33) assists (47) and points (80). But as anyone who knows Trevor, his value is not determined by statistical output, but rather by intangibles.

At the conclusion of the season, Linden was named the winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy as "the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made noteworthy humanitarian contributions to his community." Linden started "Captain's Crew," which gave children who would not otherwise have the chance the opportunity to attend Canuck games. He also is a big supporter of Canuck Place hospice, the Ronald McDonald House, Youth Against Violence and Children's Hospital. Linden would also win the Gillette World Champion Award, given to the Canadian athlete demonstrating athletic excellence, sportsmanship and humanitarian contributions.

1996-97 was a tough season for Linden, and marked the downward trend in his career. The season started out great as he was part of the World Cup version of Team Canada. The disappointing loss to the Americans was just the first of several disappointments for Linden. His league leading ironman streak came to a finish, at 482 games as Trevor was seriously injured (knee) for first time in his career. The injury meant he would produce career lows in goals (9), points (40) and penalty minutes (27).

Goodbye, Trevor

1997-98 saw the arrival of Mark Messier, considered by many to be the greatest captain in North American sports. As a sign of true leadership, Trevor handed the team captaincy over to Mark Messier prior to start of season. To hand over something so important and so honored as the captaincy of a NHL team shows that Linden was more concerned with the good of the team than his own ego.

Trevor would wind up with a nagging groin injury that Mike Keenan would conveniently use to place Linden in his famous doghouse, and is soon traded to the New York Islanders in exchange for Brian McCabe, Todd Bertuzzi and a draft pick.

One day after being traded, Linden headed to Nagano as a member of the first ever Olympic Team Canada that included the top 25 Canadian born NHL players. Linden would score the only goal in Canada's disappointing loss to Dominik Hasek and the Czech Republic.

Linden was named captain of the New York Islanders after only 4 games on Long Island. Just weeks later Linden would become president of the National Hockey League Players Association.

Trevor would get into some hot water soon after becoming president of the NHLPA as he signed what many considered to be an undervalued contract of $2.5 million US a season, the same money he made on his previous contract. Linden's unconventional decision was looked upon with pleasant surprise by hockey fans everywhere. In an era when more and more hockey players hold out demanding millions and millions of dollars, Linden was comfortable with what he had and just wanted to play hockey. However because he was president of the NHLPA, it created unrest among union breakers.

Trevor's stay on Long Island was ultimately short, which was a good thing for Trevor. With a joke for ownership, the Islanders were simply dumping salary after salary and it was clear they had no intention of icing a competitive hockey team. Linden was traded to the fabled Montreal Canadiens in exchange for the Habs 1st round pick in 1999, 10th overall.

While Linden endured tumultuous times as a member of the Islanders, having to cope with several off-ice disruptions, including disputes over ownership and problems with the team’s home arena, the forward still has some regrets in leaving the club.

At one time Linden was the NHL's active consecutive games played leader, but injuries continue to haunt Linden in Montreal. A severe ankle injury hindered his play for much of the season. As a result, he had another poor offensive season with another weak team.

Linden, a natural right winger, was shifted to center ice later in his career in Vancouver and has played there ever since. He excelled on face-offs and is usually in sound defensive position, but the move changed his game immensely. He was much more physical on right wing. Moving up and down the wall, Linden excelled by hitting and banging. He was always at his best when he is playing physically. However at center ice, Linden did not get the chance to play the same physical game, as he remained disciplined and rarely strays from the middle of the ice, so that he was not caught out of position should the other team get the puck. This defensive discipline also hurts Trevor's offensive output. He no longer drove to the net as hard as he would if he were on the wing, again sacrificing his offensive output so that someone remains high to help out the defensemen.

Return of the hero

Linden was moved from Montreal to Washington before Brian Burke brought the Canucks' prodigal son back to Vancouver in November 2001. The one-time poster boy returned to Vancouver a hero, but accepted his diminishing status as a role player. Goals and ice time became harder to come by, but fan support only grew.

Even through the tumultuous times as president of the NHLPA, Trevor Linden was always well respected around the NHL. Though his legacy with the NHLPA is somewhat stained by the Ted Saskin hiring, it was Linden who was a driving force to get the two sides to the negotiating table several times during the lost season of 2004-05. History has already overlooked the contributions of Linden during this terrible chapter in the story of hockey.

A Hockey Player's Hockey Player

On the ice he's the kind of player who's true value can never really be measured by any statistic. Rest assured those on the ice, friend and foe, had great respect for Linden's intricate abilities. He's not a great scorer but has always done the small things so extremely well - a big reason for his playoff success. Linden is a big game player. In the big games its those intangible things - faceoffs, defensive excellence, physical but disciplined play, always making the safe if unspectacular play - that make the difference between winning and losing. He was a hockey player's hockey player.

Mike Brophy wrote in The Hockey News a spectacularly wonderful article on Trevor. I'd like to share a small portion of it here:

Linden believes it is attention to detail that has helped him excel.

"People always tell me I'm a great playoff performer," Linden says, "and the only reason I can think that is, is because in the playoffs doing the little things right counts the most."

Watch Linden closely and you won't be blown away by any particular skill; his conviction and determination are his strengths. He doesn't have the hardest shot in the league, yet the puck doesn't flutter when he snaps it towards the gal. He is a deceptively fast skater. In a race for the puck, an opponent might look like he's skating quicker, but Linden often gets there first using a long, fluent stride."

Trevor Linden is a leader. Trevor Linden is a winner. You have to watch his game closely to truly appreciate his excellence.

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Kirk McLean

In less than one season Roberto Luongo has pretty much everyone agreeing he is the greatest Canucks goaltender of all time. There is little doubt that "Bobby Lou" is truly something special, but my favorite Canucks goaltender of all time remains, for a little bit longer anyways, Kirk McLean.

Utilizing his big size, Captain Kirk was one of the last classic stand up goalies to succeed in the National Hockey League. Canucks radio colour commentator Tom Larscheid described him best: "He's like one of those bubble hockey goalies, always standing perfectly straight and just letting the puck hit him."

His stand up style was ideal for his big frame, although in some ways his style made him unappreciated. While other goalies were acrobatically turning away pucks, "Mac" made all saves look routine by just getting in the way of it and making sure the rebound was under control. To the novice fan it looked routine, even boring, but to the hardcore fan it was a pleasure to watch one of the last great stand up goalies.

One of the coolest customers you'll ever meet, McLean seemed unflappable, even in the early years with Vancouver when the team was extremely weak. He had a tremendous glove hand, which made up for vulnerabilities to the low posts. He also loved to handle the puck, usually in the far corner of the rink in what is now part of the restricted zone. He would almost without fail deke out an oncoming forechecker by faking a puck dump behind the net and around to the other corner, but then pull back with a backhanded flip the other way, usually to a waiting Canucks defenseman.

Growing up in Toronto, McLean grew up idolizing Bernie Parent and Jacques Plante, as well as Dave Keon. He began playing in net at age 7, and before you know it he was the number one goalie with the OHL's Oshawa Generals. The New Jersey Devils were impressed, and drafted him 107th overall in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.

McLean would turn pro and apprentice in the minor leagues in 1986-87. He'd appear in 4 games with the Devils, who were loaded with good young goaltenders at the time. The Devils had always lacked great goaltending and had stockpiled on goaltending prospects. With Sean Burke, Craig Billington, Alain Chevrier and Chris Terreri all emerging as NHLers at relatively the same time, the Devils decided to move McLean in exchange for help up front.

The deal was good for both teams, but especially for Vancouver over the long haul. The Canucks moved creative center Patrik Sundstrom to the Devils in exchange for McLean, and B.C. boy Greg Adams. It was one of the first moves the new Pat Quinn-Brian Burke regime would make, and proved to be a turning point in Canucks history.

McLean quickly proved he was ready for the NHL. After battling in training camp with veterans Steve Weeks, Frank Caprice and most notably long time fan favorite "King Richard" Brodeur, "Mac" emerged as the number one goalie. Adding to the pressure of being counted on game in and game out was the fact that the Canucks ended up trading Brodeur away to make room for McLean. The unproven goaltender replaced the local legend and had to prove his worth before a very watchful fan base and media.

McLean played in 41 games that first year, winning just 11 with a very weak Canucks team. His numbers improved to 20 wins in 42 contests the following year. He extended he is season by representing Canada at the World Hockey Championships. While locals knew McLean was something special, soon the rest of the league would find out for themselves.

In 1989-90, the Canucks were still struggling, but with McLean and a young Trevor Linden leading the way, the future looked bright. McLean played in 63 games that season, winning just 21. But his value to the team was recognized throughout the league when he was named a finalist in league voting for goaltender of the year. He was also invited to his first NHL all star game and was named NHL player of the week in March.

As the Canucks got better, McLean emerged as one of the league's best. In 1991-92 he won a a league high 38 games in 65 contests. His GAA was an impressive 2.74 and he posted 5 shutouts, another league high. He was named to the NHL's second all star team. He would finish second behind Patrick Roy in voting for the Vezina Trophy as the league's top netminder.

Kirk McLean, like most of the Canucks of that era, will always be remembered for his play in the 1994 playoffs. The team struggled through an underachieving regular season, but backed by the brilliance of McLean's puckstopping went all the way to game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals before finally bowing to the New York Rangers.

McLean's signature moment came in round one against Calgary. With the team clawing it's way back from a 3 games to 1 deficit, the Canucks forced overtime in game 7. In the extra frame McLean robbed Flames' sniper Robert Reichal with a sliding, pad-stacked toe save that to this day is considered the single most important save of the Canucks history.

But McLean was never better than in game one of the Stanley Cup finals in New York. The Rangers heavily outplayed the underdog Canucks, but McLean, in his classic stand-up style, committed one of the grandest larcenies in the history of Manhattan. His 52 save performance, including 17 in overtime, remains one of the most impressive games I've ever seen a goaltender play. In a game where the Rangers could have blown out the Canucks, McLean kept the score 2-2 into over time where Greg Adams, McLean's trade accompaniant from New Jersey 7 years prior, scored the game winning goal at 19:26 of the first over time.

As magical as that spring was, the entire Canucks team could not recapture it and would soon fall apart. McLean struggled to adjust to the butterfly goaltending stance that was now seemingly the only acceptable strategy. He was doubly distracted by his divorce.

Despite his all star status and tremendous resume, perhaps history will always remember Kirk McLean as the goalie who gave up Wayne Gretzky's record breaking 802nd NHL goal. On March 23rd, 1994, Gretzky broke Gordie Howe's all time NHL scoring record with a power play marker in a 6-3 loss to the Canucks. McLean had no chance on the play, but will undoubtedly be forever immortalized in hockey trivia games.

Like all members of that Canucks team, McLean was soon moved out in a dismantling process by the new Canucks regime. McLean was moved to Carolina in exchange for, somewhat ironically, Sean Burke, the goalie who ended winning the Devils net job back in the late 1980s. McLean left as the Canucks all time leader in wins, shutouts and games played by a goaltender.

Sadly McLean bounced around the league, landing later in Florida and then the Rangers before retiring in 2001. By the end he may have been a shadow of his old self, his stand up style now a NHL antique. But to Vancouver fans of the early 1990s, Captain Kirk will always be #1.

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Pavel Bure

Pavel Bure was the most electrifying hockey player as the world approached the 21st century. While the likes of Jaromir Jagr, Dominik Hasek, Paul Kariya and Eric Lindros are all extremely great hockey players, Bure had the rare ability to pull the fans out of their seats every time he touches the puck.

No one loves to score as much as Bure. Even in practice he loves to see the twine bulge. In that sense Bure ranks as one of the greatest pure goal scorers in hockey history. Names like Mike Bossy and Rocket Richard are fair comparisons.

Bure is nicknamed the Russian Rocket because of his incredible speed. While some players can match his foot speed, what makes Bure so special is he can carry the puck at top speed. Most players just push the puck in front of them as they break down the wing; Bure is capable of deking through a top defenseman without losing steam. Sometimes he even dropped the puck into his feet and kick it by the blueliner, and then accelerate by him to get in alone. He was truly a magnificent player to watch, and you often watched with your jaw hanging open.

Though small by NHL standards, Bure was built like a rock, with great strength and balance. He had legs like tree trunks that powered his scary speed. He had an arsenal of goal scoring tricks. His wrist shot was lethal, as was his much rarer slap shot. But most of all he loved to deke.

Pavel also had a nasty streak him and would not take anything from bigger players. Just ask Shane Churla. Churla, a noted roughian, was giving Pavel a hard time in one particular game. Pavel took only so much before he caught Churla with a blind hit and a vicious elbow. Pavel played the game with reckless abandon, particularly if the he sensed an opportunity to crash to the net and score a goal. He was seemingly fearless even after injuries began taking their toll on his body.

One area that his coaches would have liked Bure to do more of was use his linemates better. Too often Bure tried to go through the entire opposition by himself. Sometimes he actually did it, and every time it was an event. But Bure was a good passer, underrated even, and the team would be better off if Bure would have been a little less selfish at times. He was also knocked for his defensive play.

"Pasha" was drafted in the sixth round of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, 113th overall, by the Vancouver Canucks. It would turn out to be a controversial pick at that time because no 18 year old could be drafted after the third round unless he had played more than ten games in 2 seasons in a major league. The NHL Media Guide stated that Pavel had only played 5 games the year before, but Mike Penny (the Canucks' Chief Scout) discovered proof in the form of score sheets which had recorded that Pavel had played 11 games in that previous year.

At the age of 16, Pavel joined the Red Army to play with the best hockey players in Russia at that time, including the popular KLM line (Vladimir Krutov, Igor Larionov, and Sergei Makarov). It was with that team also that he met Sergei Federov and Alexander Mogilny. Together, they formed one of the best lines in the world. They were being groomed to carry on the tradition of the KLM line in the old Soviet regime, prior to the fall of communism and the opening of NHL gates to former Soviet hockey players.

Pavel played in the World Junior Championships for three years where he scored 27 goals and 12 assists for a total of 39 points in just 21 games. In 1989 and 1990 he won the gold medal, and in 1991 just before joining the Canucks, he won the silver medal. In 1989 he was named the Soviet League Rookie of the Year.

In fact, as a kid the thought of a Russian in the NHL was so remote that Bure never dreamed of North American glory. He dreamed of playing with the mighty Soviet national team, like his idols Boris Mikhailov and Valeri Kharlamov.

"I never dreamed about the NHL. Growing up I didn’t hear too many things about it. North America was like a different planet. Kinda like something you read about but a place you never thought you’d go. It was my dream to be a part of the national team and win an Olympic medal because my father went to three Games and didn’t win a gold. My biggest dream was for me and my brother to go to the Olympics and win a gold for the family."

By the early 1990s Soviet players were being allowed to join the NHL, though the Russian federation tried their best to keep young stars like Bure. Tempted by the large contracts of professional hockey, Bure became disenchanted with his contract from the CSKA. Along with his father, an Olympic swimmer and younger brother and future NHLer Valeri he slipped off to North America to start his new life with the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks.

Pavel came to Vancouver 15 games into the 1991-92 season. With his explosive rushes, his first game remains one of the most talked about nights in Vancouver hockey history. Bure instantly became the NHL's most electrifying player, as he would score 34 times while adding 26 helpers en route to winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the best rookie.

The following season the Russian Rocket lifted off to a new stratosphere, scoring 60 goals while adding 50 assists and being named a NHL First Team All Star.

In 1993-94 he scored 60 goals for the second-straight year, making him the eighth player in NHL history to accomplish that feat (the other players to do that were Phil Esposito, Mike Bossy, Jari Kurri, Wayne Gretzky, Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, and Mario Lemieux). This time he led the league with his 60 markers. During the unforgettable Stanley Cup run of the 1994 playoffs, Pavel led the team in scoring with 31 points. He also led the entire league in playoff goals with 16, none bigger than the game 7 overtime goal against the Calgary Flames to advance the Canucks to the second round.

The following season was a difficult season for the entire NHL and most of its players as the season was shortened due to a labour dispute. Pavel only managed 20 goals and 43 points in 44 games. Yet it was nowhere as near as difficult as the next two seasons.

1995-96 was supposed to be the great rejoining of perhaps the league's most dangerous duo - Pavel Bure and newly acquired Alexander Mogilny. Unfortunately only 15 games into the season Pavel Bure's ACL ligament was severely damaged while playing against the Chicago Blackhawks when he was taken down behind the net by opponent Steve Smith. Pavel's season was over, and a career long history of knee troubles had begun.

The 1996-97 season saw Pavel return for 63 games but only muster 23 goals and 55 points. During the season people wondered if the Russian Rocket would ever return to his former glory. Following the conclusion of the disappointing season it became known that Pavel had played much of the schedule with a severe case of whiplash, and perhaps should have sat out part of that season as well.

Any doubts about Bure's ability to return to his style of explosive speed, all out recklessness and goal scoring clinics were answered in the 1997-98 season, as Bure teamed up with Mark Messier to score 51 times while tying for 3rd over all in league scoring.

Bure, who had notified the Canucks he wished to be traded as early as the 1995-96 season, finally demanded a trade by sitting out the start of the 1998-99 season. Bure sat out despite being scheduled to make $8 million US citing reasons such as not enough privacy in a small, Canadian market, a variety of disputes with management and a desire to play with a winning team.

The trade finally came on January 17, 1999 as Brian Burke trade him to the Florida Panthers. Bure, Brett Hedican, Brad Ference and a 3rd round pick went to the Sunshine State in exchange for Ed Jovanovski, Dave Gagner, Mike Brown, Kevin Weekes and a 1st round pick.

Bure's stay in Florida started out a bit rocky, as he re-injured his damaged knee. However Bure again rehabilitated his knee and by the 1999-2000 season reestablished himself as one of the league's top players. As far as blue line in was concerned, Pavel Bure is the most electrifying goal scorer of the modern era was back. He ranked first in the NHL with 58 goals, capturing the newly minted Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. He was also selected as a finalist for both the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Lester B. Pearson Award as the NHL's most valuable player. He was also MVP of a memorable All Star game.

His 2000-2001 season was equally as impressive. Again he ranked first in the NHL in goals with 59. He set a NHL record by tallying 29.5% of his team's goals for the season.

Bure slowed in the 2001-02 season, scoring just 22 times in the Panthers first 56 games. The financially strapped Panthers were going nowhere, despite Pavel's best efforts, and the team simply could not afford a $10,000,000 salary. They dumped his contract to the New York Rangers in exchange for prospects and draft picks.

Reunited with Mark Messier, Bure's career was rejuvenated in Manhattan. He ended the season with 12 goals in 12 games, but the Rangers still missed the playoffs.

While Bure with the Rangers promised to be one of the best shows on Broadway in recent years, Bure's knee injuries returned and robbed him of his career. He would play only 39 more games in the NHL. He finished with 437 goals, most of the of the highlight reel variety, and 779 points in 702 games.

Although he lived the good life in North America, Bure's love for Russia never waned. Throughout his playing career he remained a strong supporter of the Russian national team. He represented Russia in two Olympics, capturing silver in 1998 and bronze in 2002. After his playing days were over, he was the surprise choice as manager of the 2006 Olympic team. With his stature in Russia as one of the true legends of hockey, it was hoped Bure's stature could convince the fractured Russian national team to put aside their differences and play for their country. Despite a good showing, Russia finished out of the medals.

Bure was a mysterious character too. A book called The Riddle of the Russian Rocket published in 1999 detailed several oddities about Pavel. Pavel, a very private person, is known for, among other things, a very public dispute with Sergei Fedorov over mutual girlfriend model/tennis player and Anna Kournikova, and for hanging out with some of Russia's top mobsters, most notably Anzor Kikalishvili.

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