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Canada's Summit Series captain Esposito joins crop of former NHL players in Moscow for state dinner a week ahead of presidential election

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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin greets Canadian former professional hockey player Phil Esposito at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow on Feb. 24, 2012.Misha Japaridze/REUTERS

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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin speaks to Canadian and Russian former legendary ice hockey players, coaches and officials at his residence outside Moscow on Feb. 24, 2012.Pool/Reuters/Reuters

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Canadian former hockey players Pat Stapleton, Marcel Dionne, Jocelyn Guevremont and Jean-Paul Parisé, left to right, stand on the ice before an exhibition game in Moscow on Feb. 25, 2012 between teams of Russian and world stars to mark the anniversary of U.S.S.R.-Canada 1972 Summit Series.Grigory Dukor/Reuters/Reuters

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Russian legendary hockey player Boris Mikhailov jokes, right, with former Canadian hockey players Phil Esposito, centre, Dennis Hull, left, and Brad Park during the starting ceremony for an exhibition game in Moscow on Feb. 25, 2012 between teams of Russian and world stars to mark the anniversary of U.S.S.R.-Canada 1972 Summit Series.Grigory Dukor/Reuters/Reuters

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Legendary Russian hockey player Alexander Yakushev, right, fights for the puck with Canadian Dave McLlwain during an exhibition game in Moscow on Feb. 25, 2012 between teams of Russian and world stars to mark the anniversary of U.S.S.R.-Canada 1972 Summit Series.Grigory Dukor/Reuters

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Former Canadian hockey player Yvon Lambert waves as he walks on ice during the starting ceremony for an exhibition game in Moscow on Feb. 25, 2012 between teams of Russian and world stars to mark the anniversary of U.S.S.R.-Canada 1972 Summit Series.Grigory Dukor/Reuters/Reuters

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Canadian former hockey players Phil Esposito, right, and Dennis Hull, centre, greet former rival Russian hockey player Alexander Maltsev during the starting ceremony for an exhibition game in Moscow on Feb. 25, 2012 between teams of Russian and world stars to mark the anniversary of U.S.S.R.-Canada 1972 Summit Series.Grigory Dukor/Reuters/Reuters

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Russian legendary hockey goalkeeper Vladimir Myshkin, left, skates with the rival Czech Republic's former goalkeeper Peter Briza after an exhibition game in Moscow on Feb. 25, 2012 between teams of Russian and world stars to mark the anniversary of U.S.S.R.-Canada 1972 Summit Series.Grigory Dukor/Reuters/Reuters

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Canadian former professional ice hockey player Phil Esposito, left, reacts next to legendary Russian hockey player Vladimir Petrov as they stand the bench during an exhibition game in Moscow on Feb. 25, 2012 between teams of Russian and world stars to mark the anniversary of U.S.S.R.-Canada 1972 Summit Series.Grigory Dukor/Reuters

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Canadian former hockey players Phil Esposito, right, and Dennis Hull, centre, greet former rival Russian, hockey legend Vladislav Tretiak, during an exhibition game in Moscow on Feb. 25, 2012 between teams of Russian and world stars to mark the anniversary of U.S.S.R.-Canada 1972 Summit Series.Grigory Dukor/Reuters

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Canadian former hockey players Phil Esposito, right, and Dennis Hull, centre, greet former rival Russian hockey player Alexander Yakushev during the starting ceremony for an exhibition game in Moscow on Feb. 25, 2012 between teams of Russian and world stars to mark the anniversary of U.S.S.R.-Canada 1972 Summit Series.Grigory Dukor/Reuters

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