Photo credit: Pinterest (left). Wikipedia (right)

Vladimir Bure was the father of two former great NHL players, Valeri Bure and Pavel Bure. It was discovered that he drowned after suffering a cardiac arrest in the ocean.

The memory of Vladimir Bure is one that many remember for his greatness over the years. He was a swimmer who won four Olympic medals, one silver and three bronze, which allowed him to be in an elite group of world athletics. Beyond the pool, he etched his name into hockey history, where he contributed as a strength and conditioning coach to the New Jersey Devils’ two Stanley Cup championships in 2000 and 2003. His influence reached further, as he was the proud father of two stars of the NHL, Pavel and Valeri Bure.

Pavel Bure, more affectionately known as the “Russian Rocket,” is a Hockey Hall of Famer and was named one of NHL.com’s 100 Greatest NHL Players. A fantastic resume includes two wins of the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the league’s top goal-scorer and the Calder Trophy as the top rookie in the league. He is remembered profoundly as one of the greatest players in Vancouver Canucks history and made a lasting impression with both the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers.

Valeri Bure still managed to have a nice career in the NHL, despite the fact that it was not as star-ridden as his brother Pavel. Over the decade or so that he was in the NHL, Valeri played for the Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, and Dallas Stars, gaining respect on the ice with his skill and dedication.

 

Yesterday, the sports world tragically bid farewell to Vladimir Bure, a man who achieved greatness in his own way but gave the world two of the greatest hockey players. His time spent in both the swimming and hockey worlds can never be forgotten, and that legacy will continue for generations to come.

RIP Vladimir Bure. You truly were a champion.