Slava Fetisov to make return to competitive hockey at 51 with CSKA Moscow
By APThursday, December 10, 2009
Hockey star Fetisov, 51, to play for Moscow team
MOSCOW — Former NHL star Slava Fetisov is expected to play for CSKA Moscow in a competitive game in the Continental Hockey League on Friday.
Fetisov, who turned 51 in April, is a lawmaker with Federation Council and president of CSKA. He ended his professional career in 1998 at age 40.
Fetisov to expected play against SKA St. Petersburg on Friday, CSKA coach Sergei Nemchinov said.
“We urgently need one more defender after Denis Kulyash was injured,” Nemchinov said. “Fetisov practices constantly and has agreed to help the team. We just need to settle some legal procedures.”
It wasn’t clear if Fetisov, the former captain of the Soviet Union national team, will play for the rest of the season. He won two Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings (1997-98) and signed with the New Jersey Devils in 1989.
Fetisov will be the first Russian ice hockey player to play at age 51. In the NHL, Gordie Howe played the entire season for the Hartford Whalers at 51, scoring 15 goals and making 26 assists.
