PAVEL BURE

LIFE IN THE NHL

Notable Achievements Recipient of Calder Memorial Trophy (1992) Selected to the All-Star Team (1993, 1994, 1996, 1997) Sixth-fastest player in NHL history to score 100 career goals Has scored against every NHL team he has played against

Pavel Bure was the fourth choice of the Vancouver Canucks and the 113th overall pick in the 1989 Draft.

His first year was indeed a memorable one, leaving no question that he was going to be one of hockey’s truly great players. In his first year, 1991-92, he scored 34 goals in 65 games, adding 10 points in 13 post-season games. For his efforts he was awarded the NHL Calder Trophy which recognizes the League’s best rookie. To say Bure is popular in Vancouver would be an understatement:

"I have been a Canucks fan since the early 70’s. When I was growing up my father had little money to send us to many games but I treasured every game I did see. Now that I have a young son of my own it is a honor to continue our family tradition. But now my son gets to see Pavel Bure each night. He is magical on the ice and strong for a relatively small player. He is the type of role model every father dreams about having in a sports superstar. He is indeed Russia’s greatest export."

Richard Marx
Canucks Season Ticket Holder

Bure is nicknamed the "Russian Rocket" for his speed and quick mobility across the ice. Ask him where it all started and he will give you a baffled look as if to say he has never given it too much thought. With an honest look he says "I just don’t know. It started one day and just caught on."

Bure relishes his stature in the National Hockey League and knows it doesn’t get any better than this.

"I would not even know where to start to talk about all the great things playing for the League means to me. I am part of the best League in the world and you have a chance to play against the biggest stars like Wayne Gretzky and some are on your same team. Nothing is bigger than this League. This is it…you’ve gotta make the best of it while you are here."

He became the first Vancouver Canuck to reach the 50-goal plateau when he slammed home 60 goals during the 1993-94 season. In that same year, Bure led his team to the Stanley Cup finals.

"I always heard so much about the Stanley Cup. People always talk about it. It really doesn’t hit you until you are there. We were so close, only one goal away and we lost. Now when people talk about it, I look at it a whole different way."

The ‘93-94 series between the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks went seven games - down to the wire. One goal separated the winners from the losers. In the seventh game the Rangers owned the Cup after a 3-2 heartbreaker for the Canucks.

In November 1995, Pavel Bure would face a major career setback. He blew out his knee while playing against the Chicago Blackhawks when he was taken down behind the net by opponent Steve Smith.

"I was shocked. I thought I was only going to be out maybe two or three days. But I don’t blame Steve Smith. It’s part of hockey. Anytime you get hurt, it can be the rest of your life."

Bure seemed to take the news better than Vancouver coach Pat Quinn, who spoke about the injury in tragic terms. "I don’t know how you describe the way I felt," said Quinn. "You get that churning in your stomach that is a combination of frustration and anger. It’s pure emotion taking over." On November 14, 1995, Bure went under the knife to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. What followed were months of painful rehabilitation. There were lingering doubts that even if Pavel Bure did return to the line-up, he would never be as fast, never as agile and never as dominant.

The start of the ‘96-97 season would find all eyes back on Bure. Minutes into the first exhibition game he would silence his critics and inspire his fans. One columnist wrote he was skating so fast "it was all a blur." Pavel Bure was back.

Fans, teammates and Bure himself were left to wonder if he would ever return after a crushing injury

After months of rehab, Bure was ready to make his comeback

A determined Bure hits the ice...

Within minutes of his return, Bure's rocket was ready to take off