Russian President Vladimir Putin spent his 63rd birthday Wednesday on the ice, playing an exhibition hockey game in Sochi with veteran stars of the NHL.
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Unsurprisingly, the exceptionally athletic Putin was the main draw, and clinched a rare double hat trick and then some, netting seven points for his team.
The event kicked off the fifth season of Russia’s Night Hockey League, and saw Putin playing alongside international hockey legends like Pavel Bure and Vladimir Lutchenko. His team took home victory, beating their opponents 15 to 10.
The opposing team included Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as well as Putin’s close friends — tycoons Gennady Timchenko and Arkady Rotenberg. Both were slapped with Western sanctions last year for their ties to Putin in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
But Putin was undoubtedly the star of the show, and event went home with a trophy for his team’s win at the end and a medal for his contribution to hockey in Russia.
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