News from September 1996

The Vancouver Canucks may have won big in Tom Renney's exhibition home coaching debut Tuesday but, even better than that, Pavel Bure was back at GM Place, on the ice and performing.
The Russian Rocket wasn't firing on every cylinder, especially during the first period, but he began warming up in the second and was a key participant in two Markus Naslund goals that helped the Canucks trounce the Phoenix Coyotes 6-0 before an announced crowd of 13,212. Bure feathered a gorgeous power-play pass to Naslund for one goal and then set up the second with one of his trademark dashes down the wing. The mere sight of Bure, complete with his reconstructed right knee and healed kidney, in full flight seemed to freeze the Coyotes, who allowed Jyrki Lumme to take Bure's pass, dance in and set up a wide open Naslund.

Later in the period, Bure demonstrated he still has his fiery temper as he two-handed Phoenix winger Dallas Drake across the ankles after the Coyote had nipped at his heels with a love tap. Bure was fortunate he wasn't given a major on the play. Vancouver Sun

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Tuesday, September 17, 1996

TONIGHT: Rocket 'n' Renney.

It's a homecoming for one and a coming out party for another, but both Pavel Bure and Tom Renney are taking it in stride.

The Russian Rocket will play in front of Vancouver Canucks fans tonight for the first time since Nov.3 of last season, three games before he blew out his right knee in Chicago.
"..It's going to be lots of fun," said Bure, who'll be joined in the lineup by other veterans. "I'm just having fun right now, no matter what I do, in the dressing room, practice or games or whatever. But I think it's going to be tough to watch our (exhibition) games after the World Cup".

Bure, who played exhibition games with Team Russia before a bruised kidney sidelined him, says he feels ready for the physical challenge.
"You just play the exhibition games just to get ready, but I'm not worrying about getting hurt," said Bure, who will wear a brace on his reconstructed right knee. "That's why last year we decided I wouldn't play unless I'm 100%, so I'm not thinking about not doing something. Now I'm 100% and I can do whatever I have to."
While Alex Mogilny will play, don't expect to see him and Bure on the same unit - except on the power play.
"If you put all your guns on one line, it's too easy to defend," said Renney. "You have to diverify your attack." Vancouver Povince, page A46

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Saturday, Sept. 14, 1996

Pavel Pots Pair in Scrimmage Playing all three Forward Spots

Whistler - Pavel Bure sniped two goals Friday in his first Vancouver Canuck Scrimmage since last season, covering the ice like a Zamboni while nearly resuscitating the long-extinct hockey position of "rover".
Bure played all three forward positions while helping Team C beat Team A, 5-3.
"He was waving at a lot of air on the faceoffs," coach Tom Renney smiled. "It's good to see him in the lineup."

Bure said he plans to play in today's Black-White game, training camp's traditional finale, and is looking forward to more meaningful games.
"It's not even an exhibition game - just a scrimmage," Bure said Friday. "It's always nice to score, but it doesn't count. They only count starting Oct.5 ."

Bure had several shifts at centre on a line with Gino Odjick and Esa Tikkanen.
"It doesn't matter where you play in a scrimmage, at least to me," he said. "I think I'll play on right wing. But if he's going to put me in at centre, that's fine, too." Vancouver Sun, page C2

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Friday, Sept. 13, 1996.

Bure Glad to be Back.... Rocket goes easy but seems OK....

Whistler - Pavel Bure hopped in his Mercedes Wednesday night, pointed it toward Whistler and turned into - well, the Russian Rocket.
"I wasn't in a plane but my car was flying," he joked Thursday after making his long awaited, much-anticipated return to the Vancouver Canucks' lineup here at training camp.
"I was really excited to step on the ice. It has been a long time. It's exciting just to do those drills and it's just nice to be among the guys again. Being away that long made me really appreciate hockey. Sometimes you think, 'Aw, we play so many games.' But being away made me understand how exciting it is playing with 18,000 people watching."

Bure hasn't skated with his Canuck teammates since a knee injury sidelined him las Nov.9 in Chicago. He got back on the ice with Team Russia for the World Cup but bruised a kidney on a clean hit by Team USA defenceman Brian Leetch on Aug.23 and has been out ever since.

So the burning question - how did he look?
Well, naturally he was taking it easy his first time out but there were times when he looked like the same old Pavel. He stopped ona dime. He had the quick bursts of speed. He ripped slapshots and he tossed in a few deja vu dekes just for good measure.
He's not going to do anything stupid but he's eager to collide with a teammate or two, certainly an emotional if not physical hurdle that athletes must clear as they pass along the comeback trail.
"I really trust the knee," he said. "I know it's healthy. I skated twice a day for six weeks (this summer) with my father. And I skated on my own five times before I came here."
"I'd like to scrimmage tomorrow but we'll see. It's up to the doctors. Now I feel Like I can take a hit."

The doctors will be cautious with the Canucks' $4.5-million US man.
"He's fine but what we he needs right now is make those first couple of hits," said Peter Twist, the strength and conditioning coach who worked tirelessly with Bure last year.
"We're not worried about his knee at all."

Rookie head coach Tom Renney got a first up-close-and-personal look at his Rocket and was pleased.
"He looked fine," said Renney. "Obviously, we're happy to have him here and I got the impression he was having fun."

If Renney had to wince and look away whenever Bure was skating in traffic, he didn't admit it Thursday. He said you can't worry about Bure re-injuring the knee or the kidney.
"You can't think that way. If you do it transcends to the player."
Renney also thought he noticed a few extra passes going Bure's way.
"I thought in our power-play drill he sure had a lot of passes," said Renney. "Maybe that's the way they get in good with the big guy."

Kidding aside, players are happy to have Bure back.
"It's nice to see him out there and doing well," said defenceman Bret Hedican, who won the skating event in the team's skill competition last year. "It's comforting to the brain to see him out there." Vancouver Province, page A64.

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Wednesday, Sept. 11, 1996.

Airlift In

Injured RW Pavel Bure (bruised kidney) is expected to arrive in camp today and begin skating Thursday. Vancouver Province

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Monday, Sept. 9, 1996.

Pavel Skates Again

Canucks physician Dr. Ross Davidson said Pavel Bure skated Saturday (at Burnaby's 8-Rinks) for the first time since suffering a bruised kidney in World Cup play. He said Bure will likely practice on Tuesday.

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Thursday, Sept. 5, 1996.

Pavel Making Steady Improvement

Pavel Bure is making steady improvement from his bruised kidney and a further examination Friday will determine whether he can start skating with his teammates Sunday at Whistler. The Russian Rocket was injured Aug. 23 in a World Cup pre-tournament game and was ordered to rest for a minimum of two weeks. He will likely get the green light.

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