Vladimir Malakhov
Finnish hockey legend Esa Tikkanen (R) vies with Russian Vladimir Malakhov during the game in Moscow on February 25, 2012. Top hockey players and former stars faceed off on the invitation of Russian strongman Vladimir Putin to celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Cold War era Summit Series between the Canadian and Soviet teams. The Summit Series was the first ever meeting between the Soviet and an NHL-inclusive Canadian national ice hockey teams and an eight-game series was held in September 1972. In 1970s the Cold War between West and East was in full swing with intense feelings of nationalism were aroused by the contest both in Canada and the Soviet Union. The clash between the all-conquering Soviet Red Machine and Canadian NHL professional players represented the confrontation of two systems, which both desperately desired to prove their supremacy.
