This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Russian president Vladimir Putin played in an exhibition hockey game with retired NHL players on Saturday – and scored eight goals.

Putin’s team won 18-6, with most of the 62-year-old president’s goals coming on assists from NHL stars Pavel Bure and Valeri Kamensky. Three of the remaining goals were scored by Russia’s defense minister.

Bure, 44, played for the Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers and New York Rangers, and was affectionately known by US fans as “the Russian Rocket”.

Kamensky, 49, turned out for the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, the Rangers, the Dallas Stars and the New Jersey Devils, and was the scorer of one of the most famous goals in NHL history.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Putin signs an opponent’s uniform. Photograph: Alexei Nikolsky/AP

The game was played in Sochi, the city that hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics, and concluded shortly before Russia played the US in a semifinal of the ice hockey world championships.

During his 15 years as Russia’s leader, Putin has frequently displayed his athletic skills, most notably in judo and swimming. He took up hockey only in recent years, in an effort to promote the sport.