Head of Russia's sports authority urges businessmen to buy NHL team

Canadian Press

Thursday, August 07, 2003

MOSCOW (AP) - The chairman of Russia's top sporting authority has urged Russian millionaires to expand their sporting interests by buying a National Hockey League team.

Former hockey star Vyacheslav Fetisov, chairman of Russia's State Sports Committee and a two-time Stanley Cup winner, said Russian businessmen should follow millionaire Roman Abramovich's example and buy a professional sports team - not in the English soccer premiership as Abramovich has done, but in the NHL.

"It wouldn't hurt to have our own, wholly Russian team in the National Hockey League. It would stir up more interest," Fetisov told a news conference, according to the Interfax news agency.

Last month, Russian oil and aluminum tycoon Abramovich landed a bombshell in the English soccer world when he purchased a controlling stake in Chelsea Football Club.

Fetisov played in the NHL from 1989 to 1998 and twice lifted the Stanley Cup as a defenceman in the Detroit Red Wings.

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