(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) Russia’s Alexander Ovechkin reacts after team’s victory at the Ice Hockey World Championships bronze medal match between Russia and USA, in Moscow, Russia, on Sunday, May ...

Putin's love of hockey as his favorite sport is widely known. He attended the Russia-U.S. preliminary round game at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, famously won in a shootout by American T.J. Oshie. The ...