Why do hockey fans call forward Pavel Bure of the Vancouver Canucks the "Russian Rocket"" Maybe it's because of his speed, which allows him to rush end-to-end through the opposing team to score. Maybe it's his wicked shot, one that has allowed Bure to become one of only eight players in National Hockey League (NHL) history to score sixty or more goals twice in their career. Because of his ability to produce highlights every time he touches the puck, hockey fans also call Bure one of the best players in the NHL and the world.

Growing up

Born to skate

Pavel Bure was born March 31, 1971, in Moscow, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (now Russia). He and his brother, Valerí, lived with their parents, Vladimir and Tanya, in a suburb of Moscow. Vladimir Bure was a great freestyle swimmer who won four Olympic medals and represented his country...