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Russia Hockey Federation Boss Shot DeadApril 22, 1997.MOSCOW (Reuter) - The head of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, Valentin Sych, was shot dead in an apparent contract killing early Tuesday nearhis country villa outside Moscow. Valentin Sych accompanied Pavel Bure and the rest of the Russian WorldCup '96 team through their European warm-up tour, as well as at their North Ameican venues. He is also feautured on page two of the 'Russian Hockey Stars at the World Cup '96' booklets . Police said Sych's wife was wounded when an unidentified gunman sprayed their car with automatic rifle fire soon after they set off from the town of Dmitrov toward Moscow. Although hit in the leg, she was able to summon police by mobile phone. Police said they had no immediate clue to the motive. Sych, 60, whose national hockey squad is due to fly to Helsinki Wednesday for the world championships, had spoken out recently against the involvementin sports of Russia's thriving criminal underworld and mafia-style crime gangs. He told Reuters in an interview two months ago that criminal activity in Russian sports was getting worse and that many players and officials were scared by organized crime and facing pressure to abet illegal ventures. "A nightmare, an absolute nightmare," Nikolai Epshtein, oneof Russia's longest serving coaches, said of Sych's death. "I'm speechless." "This was a premeditated murder. I cannot understand how this could happen to him. This is a total outrage," said Anatoly Kostryukov, head of the federation's coaching council. Police found the killer's car and gun close to the scene. For 20 years up to 1989 Sych was on the Soviet Sports Committee, becoming deputy head in 1984. After a brief spell representing Russian winter sports at the International Olympic Committee, he became president of the hockey federation in 1994. The links between crime and sport in Russia range from much rumored but seldom proved match-rigging to strongarm attempts to take over control of sports clubs and organizations. Vancouver Canucks star, Russian forward Alexander Mogilny, was offered a big-money contract last year to come back to Russia from the NHL but reportedly turned it down over fears that he would become a prey for extortionists, kidnappers and other criminals. Numerous organizations in Russia, including the state-run National Sports Fund, became prime targets for criminals because, until recently, they enjoyed huge tax breaks and customs privileges which allowed them to import alcohol, tobacco and domestic appliances cheaply. The then head of the Sports Fund was shot and knifed outside his Moscow apartment last summer but survived and returned to accuse senior Kremlin aides of siphoning cash out of the fund.
Bure needs timeApril 17, 1997: -- Vancouver PrvinceVancouver Canucks General Manager Pat Quinn, held a season wrap-up media conference at GM Place Wednesday. His comments regarding Pavel Bure were many, and while he didn't come right out and say he'd trade either Pavel Bure or Alexander Mogilny this summer to improve his moribund 35-40-7 club. But between the lines ....? "I don't think we're in a day when there are untouchables." While there's a lot of concern over the health of injured star Pavel Bure, Quinn expects him to be ready for training camp in September. "You have to remember that he's had two injuries (Major knee surgery and whiplash) and it takes time to recover, especially from the mental side." said Quinn of the whiplash-type symptoms that Bure felt since being propelled into the boards by Calgary's Todd Simpson in the first game of the season. "We all learned to love the way Pavel played the game and I think he can get back to that." Bure, who is slated to make $5.5 million US next season in the second last year of his pact, said at the end of this season that he was in pain. Bure is back in Russia, but is expected back in two weeks to continue rehab.
Individual leaders for 1996-97 Canucks seasonApril 12, 1997.
Points: Mogilny (73), Gelinas (68), Bure (55)
No World '97 Championships for PavelApril 12, 1997.Interviewed by the media during the intermission of the Canucks lastgame of the 96/97 season tonight against Edmonton (a Canucks 5-4 win), Pavel indicated that beacuse of his current illness, there was no chance that he could represent his country (Russia) in the forthcoming '97 World Championships, due to be held in Europe shortly. He indicated that his headaches were in fact diminishing, but that his back was still presenting a lot of problems. "Hopefully" I can be ready for the start of the '97 season", Pavel said, with the emphasis on hopefully, being quite evident, indicating that this injury will require a much longer re-cupertaion period than fans probably realize.
End of season for PavelApril 11, 1997.With the elimination tonight of the Vancouver Canucks from the Western Conference playoffs for the first time this decade, any hopes of Pavel returning to play this season vanished into thin air. Contrary to popular thinking, Pavel was not resting on his laurels during his time in convalescence. He did have a daily regimen of exercises and skating (now skating 90 minutes daily), as well as many pheuaraputic and diagonostic consultations. As well, he was representing the Vancouver Canucks at many public relations functions, well beyond the obligations to his employer. With the playoff aspirations of the Vancouver Canucks for the 1996/97 now known, the latest issue (#32) of the Pavel Bure Fan Club newsletter was submitted to the printer, and should be in the mail for the club members next week.
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