Ice Capades: Vladimir Putin Wipes Out in Hockey Game

It’s time to face facts: Vladimir Putin isn’t the hockey player he once was.

It had been six months since Putin celebrated his 63rd birthday by netting seven goals in a hotly contested 15-10 win over a scrappy squad of NHL veterans – all skill, by the way – so on Tuesday, he strapped on the skates once again, teaming with players like Russian hockey stars Viacheslav Fetisov and Pavel Bure in a Night Hockey League game. But this time, we didn’t get a double hat-trick (plus one). We got Putin’s worst performance to date.

Putin did managed to play a role in his team’s victory, however, scoring a goal and dishing out a pair of assists. (Oh, and his team remains undefeated in these exhibition games. Big surprise there.) Unfortunately for the Russian president, he also fell on his ass at one point, which was captured perfectly by a photographer sitting rink-side. It soon made its way to social media, and you can guess what happened from there.

U-S-A! U-S-A! America #1!

“Putin falls during ice hockey game” https://t.co/6iLOALi8TH pic.twitter.com/Ldgb20vTrL

— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) May 11, 2016

In Putin’s defense (and how often do you read that?), how many 63-year-old world leaders can not only still lace ’em up, but swim in Siberia’s chilly waters and get cozy with polar bears? And even if you had an answer, would you ever tell Vlad? We didn’t think so.