Pavel Bure: "Matches between Russia and the US need to be held at both club and international level"

Pavel Bure, the Special Representative of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RIHF) for International Affairs:

"Our president, Vladimir Putin, has always supported ice hockey and it's no coincidence that he's suggested holding matches at such an important time for both our country, and the world as a whole. Even during the most tense moments of the Cold War, our nations always competed against each other on the ice. Our national teams and clubs competed. And, as a consequence of this, world ice hockey developed and our countries became closer. I'm confident that such games can help our countries become closer, while also serving as a symbol of peace for not only Russia and the US, but also for the entire planet.

"I think that we need to stage matches at both club and international level. We can play either in Russia, America or on neutral territory. Following our exclusion from IIHF competitions, the RIHF has undertaken a lot of work with regard to developing our national teams while managing to fill arenas. Our senior, junior and youth national teams can all play against the USA."