Post by Jazz on Jul 18, 2004 4:19:00 GMT -5
Stanley Cup, Nikolai Khabibulin arrive in to Belarussian capital[/u][/color]
Tampa Bay Lightning goalkeeper Nikolai Khabibulin, accompanied by his daughter Alexandra, carries the Stanley Cup on his arrival in Minsk, Belarus, Saturday. (AP/Sergei Grits)
CREDIT: (AP/Sergei Grits)
Saturday, July 17, 2004
MINSK, Belarus (AP) - Thousands turned out to catch a glimpse of the Stanley Cup on Saturday as professional ice hockey's most prestigious trophy arrived in the Belarussian capital accompanied by Tampa Bay Lightning goalkeeper Nikolai Khabibulin.
The 89-centimetre silver bowl sitting atop supporting rings was put on display outside Minsk's Palace of Sport, where Belarussians lined up in long lines to pose with the trophy and take photographs.
Khabibulin, who tied for the National Hockey League's lead with five shutouts and posted a 1.71 goals-against average in the 2004 playoffs, told NTV television he was happy to be travelling with the cup to Minsk.
"People are hospitable here. The city is clean, calm, no hassle," said Khabibulin, whose wife Victoria was born here.
According to tradition, all players from the club that wins the Stanley Cup can have it for two days.
Next week, the cup travels to Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, in the company of Lightning forward Ruslan Fedotenko.
Khabibulin also repeated his refusal to play for the Russian team at the World Cup at the end of August and beginning of September.
He told Sport Express last month that the Russian ice hockey federation was in terrible condition, the coaching in Russia is bad, and Russian training preparations for the World Cup were in "complete chaos."
"The way it is organized there (in Russia), I will not take part," Khabibulin told NTV.
Original link: www.canada.com/sports/hockey/story.html?id=20483D5E-A21B-4790-A5A9-F7A158C09EB8
Tampa Bay Lightning goalkeeper Nikolai Khabibulin, accompanied by his daughter Alexandra, carries the Stanley Cup on his arrival in Minsk, Belarus, Saturday. (AP/Sergei Grits)
CREDIT: (AP/Sergei Grits)
Saturday, July 17, 2004
MINSK, Belarus (AP) - Thousands turned out to catch a glimpse of the Stanley Cup on Saturday as professional ice hockey's most prestigious trophy arrived in the Belarussian capital accompanied by Tampa Bay Lightning goalkeeper Nikolai Khabibulin.
The 89-centimetre silver bowl sitting atop supporting rings was put on display outside Minsk's Palace of Sport, where Belarussians lined up in long lines to pose with the trophy and take photographs.
Khabibulin, who tied for the National Hockey League's lead with five shutouts and posted a 1.71 goals-against average in the 2004 playoffs, told NTV television he was happy to be travelling with the cup to Minsk.
"People are hospitable here. The city is clean, calm, no hassle," said Khabibulin, whose wife Victoria was born here.
According to tradition, all players from the club that wins the Stanley Cup can have it for two days.
Next week, the cup travels to Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, in the company of Lightning forward Ruslan Fedotenko.
Khabibulin also repeated his refusal to play for the Russian team at the World Cup at the end of August and beginning of September.
He told Sport Express last month that the Russian ice hockey federation was in terrible condition, the coaching in Russia is bad, and Russian training preparations for the World Cup were in "complete chaos."
"The way it is organized there (in Russia), I will not take part," Khabibulin told NTV.
Original link: www.canada.com/sports/hockey/story.html?id=20483D5E-A21B-4790-A5A9-F7A158C09EB8
