Pavel Bure’s No. 10 being retired this weekend
Posted November 1, 2013 8:12 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – He was one of the best players to ever hit the ice for the Vancouver Canucks and tomorrow, Pavel Bure will be honoured at Rogers Arena. His #10 jersey will be raised to the rafters.
“Bure was a very special player, and those guys just don’t come along too often,” says News1130 Sports Director Ann Schmaltz.
“In his prime, he was the most dominant offensive player, for sure; he was pretty well unstoppable. He was so explosive with his initial strides, hustling to get back to the puck on the fly; it was because of that that he was given the nickname the ‘Russian Rocket.'”
“He posted two consecutive 60-goal seasons, helped lead the team to the 1994 Stanley Cup Final, and is the only player in the history of the Canucks to be inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame,” adds Schmaltz.
For many Canucks fans, it’s a no-brainer to hang his number in the rafters. But Schmaltz admits not everyone agrees.
“It’s no secret that there was a sour taste in his mouth when he left the franchise, and fans do have the right to be upset; many feel he didn’t do enough away from the game in the community to deserve this honour.”
Tomorrow, Bure’s number will be retired and join Linden, Naslund, and Smyl’s numbers in the rafters of Rogers Arena.
