Vladmir Putin celebrates election victory by playing ice hockey

After winning the Russian presidency, Kremlin strongman Vladmir Putin laced up his hockey skates and scored the game-winning goal in a shootout.

Of course, nobody knows what might have happened to the goaltender had he turned aside the nifty back-handed shot.

Vladmir Putin finds the back of the net.

Putin's stickhandling attracted attention in India, which had a close relationship with Russia for many years. Below, you can see how Putin's hockey-playing antics in Moscow's Megasport stadium were covered in a country where hardly anyone plays ice hockey.

If you pay close attention to the video, you'll also spot former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi in the stands.

Silvio Berlusconi watches his old friend play hockey.

While in office, the notorious playboy ensured that his country supported Russia at the United Nations, which ensured that Italy never ran out of energy.

Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper often shows up in the stands at hockey games to win votes and demonstrate that he's a man of the people. But until Harper actually jumps over the boards and starts delivering some bodychecks, he'll always look like a wimp next to Putin.

Follow Charlie Smith on Twitter at twitter.com/csmithstraight.