The Magician of Russian Hockey: Pavel Datsyuk’s Farewell Game

At the “UGMK Arena” in Yekaterinburg, a farewell game was held for one of the greatest hockey players of our time – Olympic champion, two-time World Champion, two-time Stanley Cup and Gagarin Cup winner, member of the “Triple Gold Club” and the Hockey Hall of Fame, Pavel Datsyuk.

Alongside the “Magician” on the ice were legends of Russian and world hockey – Alexander Ovechkin, Valeri Kamensky, Kirill Kaprizov, Sergei Fedorov, Ilya Kovalchuk, Alexei Morozov, Sergei Mozyakin, Vasily Koshechkin, Danis Zaripov, Viacheslav Fetisov and many others. The teams were coached by figures who left a bright mark in the history of Team Russia and in Datsyuk’s career – Vladimir Krikunov, Alexander Yakushev and Oleg Znarok.
Datsyuk’s career is impossible to imagine without Team Russia. He repeatedly became a key figure for the national team at the Olympic Games and World Championships, inspiring his teammates not only with skill and tactical thinking, but also with his ability to lead. His name is forever tied to Russia’s great victories and will always serve as an example for future generations of players.

Pavel Datsyuk:
– I want to thank everyone who took part in organizing this match. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make my dream come true – to give my hometown such a celebration. Deciding to announce the end of my career was a very emotional step. I had been preparing for this for three years, and I am glad that I was able to spend such an evening at this wonderful arena.

Thinking back on my history with Team Russia, I have two special memories. One is not the brightest: the Sochi Olympics, where we lost at home in front of our fans. But the main memory is the Olympic gold in PyeongChang. It was a long dream and a goal that I pursued with the team, together with Ilya Kovalchuk, going through five Olympics. My first tournament for the national team was the Karjala Cup, and I am grateful to the coaches who believed in me then. That’s where I realized the level I needed to aim for. It became the beginning of my big hockey journey.



The Russian Ice Hockey Federation thanks Pavel Datsyuk for his outstanding career, loyalty to the national team, and enormous contribution to Russia’s glorious victories. His name will forever remain part of the history of the “Red Machine.”

Vladislav Tretiak, President of the RIHF: 
– Datsyuk is a legendary athlete, an athlete of an era. Pavel is one of the greatest players in the history of both Russian and world hockey, an immense talent, a magnificent center. The nickname “The Magician” is very symbolic, because his game was always full of magic. His dekes, shootout moves, precise and quick decisions, incredible puck control. Nobody could predict what Pavel would do the next second, which is why defenders and goalies found it especially hard to play against him. Hundreds of thousands of boys wanted to start playing hockey after watching Datsyuk on the ice. 

Pavel deserves special respect for his patriotism. He truly loves his Motherland, he loves Russian hockey. He never refused to come to the national team, always rushed to help at the first call. Datsyuk played for Team Russia for 18 years at the biggest tournaments, and his contribution to victories was always immense. The Olympic gold of 2018, the World Championship gold in 2012 – at these and other tournaments Pasha was a leader, guiding his teammates. I especially remember his heroics in the semifinal of the 2010 World Championship. That game against Germany was very tough, and in the year of the 65th anniversary of the Great Victory, Team Russia simply had no right to lose. It was Datsyuk who took responsibility. In the 59th minute he broke out of his own zone, looked towards the far corner but coolly shot into the near one. That goal was the game-winner. 

From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely thank Pavel for everything he has done in hockey and for hockey. He had a great career, winning all the most prestigious titles. He is the only player in the world to have won the Olympic Games, World Championship, Stanley Cup, and Gagarin Cup. I am convinced that Datsyuk’s vast experience and talent will continue to benefit Russian hockey. By the way, at the start of his career Pavel probably never imagined that his farewell game would take place not just in Yekaterinburg, but also in such a wonderful state-of-the-art arena. But in these 20 years, we have managed to raise our hockey to a new height – including in terms of infrastructure quality, building the best arenas in the world. And in the fact that our sport develops and moves forward, without a doubt – this is also the merit of such legends as Pavel, a man thanks to whom many of our compatriots fell in love with Russian hockey.



Vladimir Krikunov:
– The first time I saw Pavel was in Yekaterinburg – he was recommended to me by an assistant coach from SKA. I took him to practice: we went to play football at the old arena, he came out and it was immediately obvious how well he handled the ball. That’s when I decided to take him to training camp. We went to Glazov, and when Pasha stepped on the ice, all doubts disappeared. He skated so easily, handled the puck so confidently, did everything the right hockey way – it became clear that he had a big future ahead.

But in order for him to be taken into the Russian national team, I had to persuade Alexander Sergeyevich Yakushev for a long time. At first, he refused, but eventually agreed, although he placed Pasha on the fifth line. Later, when we talked, he admitted: “When I first saw him, I thought you’d lost your mind – who did you send me?” But soon a center in the first line with Prokopiev and Sushinsky got injured, and Pasha was put in his place. After practice, Maxim Sushinsky said: “We don’t need anyone else.” At the same time, Yakushev asked me to send Alexei Chupin away. But after camp, Alexei himself said: “Why did you send me? I didn’t play a single game.”

Congratulations to Pavel on a wonderful career. I am sure he will bring a lot of benefit to our hockey, but already from the other side of the ice. He has many ideas, he is passionate about this work. We often discussed it when he had already stopped playing. He said: “I’ll develop, I’ll work with the youth.” And later he admitted: “Vasilyevich, they don’t understand anything!” I reassured him: “Pasha, this is the learning process. At first nobody understands anything, then they start to understand a little, and then they say: well, who doesn’t know that.”



Photos from the farewell game in Yekaterinburg: by HC Avtomobilist