ST. PETERSBURG, June 4. /TASS/. Russia’s two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time NHL Stanley Cup Champion Vyacheslav Fetisov told TASS on Thursday that he had recently played ice hockey with President Vladimir Putin.
"Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] fell in love with this game and he greatly enjoys it," Fetisov said in an interview with TASS on the sidelines of the 2026 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2026).
"It [the game] always offers new feelings and an opportunity to switch to another wavelength. The game of ice hockey is always about some new feelings. It is about netting a puck, giving away an assist and skating swiftly. This is what generates positive emotions," he continued.
"Being in a good physical condition and enjoying the sports, this game particularly, is a must-do today. We usually sit and talk together with other [hockey and sports legends] on various issues. It is also interesting for him [Putin] to talk to us," Russia’s legendary ice hockey player noted.
Fetisov pointed out that during the matches he is positioned to play in one five with Putin on the ice simultaneously adding "that we have already worked out the five’s match-up so everything is okay."
