“A great opportunity to have fun”: Ovechkin will take part in the NHL All-Star Game for the first time in five years

Alexander Ovechkin, although one of the brightest stars in the National Hockey League, has not recently taken part in the All-Star Games.

He last honored an event in Tampa with his presence five years ago.

The Russian missed subsequent meetings for various reasons, including because of a positive test for coronavirus in 2022.

However, this time, nothing should stop the striker from delighting fans in Florida on February 4th.

He will again lead the team of the Capital Division.

Despite numerous refusals, the Washington Capitals forward remains the record holder for the number of participations among those who will take to the ice of the FLA Live arena in Florida, because this show will be his eighth.

This number could be more impressive if the 37-year-old Russian, for various reasons, did not ignore five "star weekends".

As well as the number of points scored by Alexander the Great.

While he is ranked seventh on the list of the most productive hockey players with an asset of seven goals and eight assists, only the legends Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Joe Sakic, Gordie Howe, Mark Messier and Ray Burke are above.

Together with Ovechkin, the fans included five more Russians in the lineups for the All-Star Game.

Igor Shesterkin and Andrey Svechnikov will play for the Capital Division, Nikita Kucherov for the Atlantic, Vladimir Tarasenko and Kirill Kaprizov for the Central.

Moreover, for the Rangers goalkeeper and the Carolina forward, this experience will be a debut.

The veteran will not only please the fans with his presence, but will also take the whole family with him - his wife Anastasia, as well as sons Sergei and Ilya.

The previous matches of the Stanley Cup winner were attended only by his parents and brother, since then he was not yet a father.

Alexander assured that children should have a lot of fun.

“Unfortunately, sometimes for various reasons it is not possible to fly.

But if you have a chance to go there, this is a great opportunity to be among the stars and play with the best, have fun, have fun with the guys, ”the official NHL website quoted the striker as saying.

Moreover, a Russian can take part in one of the competitions together with his eldest son Sergei, although there is no information yet in which one specifically.

By the way, in 2018, Ovechkin won the competition for the strongest throw.

By the way, his teammate T.J. Oshi, who had already taken children to the All-Star Game with him and went out on the ice with them, noted that Alexander’s son is already quite well physically developed for his age, in particular, he beats five strongly.

“It is very important that your children are with you.

Ovi is on a different level than us, but most of the time he's just their dad.

Kids look up to you as a hero because you're their father, not because you're good at hockey or on a poster.

Therefore, I think it is very important for them to be with you at such moments and become a part of such events, ”said Oshi.

Happy for the ward and the head coach of “Washington” Peter Laviolette.

The specialist emphasized that Ovechkin has always been an elite hockey player in the league throughout all the years of his career and remains so now, and therefore deservedly regularly receives invitations to the All-Star Games.

“He has been a star player in the League since he got here.

I still consider it an honor to qualify and represent my team.

I've been there.

I think it's very cool.

This is a good time for the players who go there, for their families, fans and sports,” said Laviolette.

Warmly spoke about the Russians and the former coach of the “Capitals” Barry Trotz.

He called Alexander one of the greatest snipers in history and suggested that he should soon be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

However, the specialist believes that the Russians are no less important merit than that thousands of children take an example from him and strive to be like him.

Interestingly, the release of a documentary film about Ovechkin called Gr8tness, which beats the forward's number, is timed to coincide with the All-Star Game.

It gives fans a first-hand look at the last seasons of the league's second-best scorer, as well as his quest to break Wayne Gretzky's seemingly unshakable record.

The two legends are currently separated by 82 goals.

At the end of last week, the trailer for the tape was released.

It collected a cut of vivid episodes with the participation of Ovechkin under his own comments.

In particular, he admitted that when he makes a shot, he is almost always sure that he will excel, unless the puck hit the goalkeeper.

“Sometimes you pay attention to iconic moments, but for me this is not the end.

Whatever you do, you must always be the best.

If you don’t want to be the best, just stop doing it, ”the athlete philosophizes.

In addition to the hero himself, ESPN journalists talked to other NHL stars who never tire of admiring the level of their fellow player and his athletic longevity.

For example, Crosby expressed confidence that he was able to break Gretzky's record.

“If I had been asked about this 15 years ago, I would have thought:“ This is impossible.

But he is going to make such an attempt, ”the Canadian emphasized.

Moreover, Gretzky himself is waiting for his achievement to fall.

The four-time Stanley Cup winner attended the match between Toronto and Washington on January 30 and even went into the commentary booth.

According to one of the greatest players in NHL history, he came to the stadium at the request of his son, who really wanted to see Ovechkin play.

Wayne called Alexander a great athlete and a wonderful person and expressed the hope that he would someday pass him and become the best scorer in the history of the NHL.

The Canadian also stressed that he does not mind losing the lead, because he once overtook Gordie Howe.

“People ask me if I'm worried about the record.

I do not care.

Once I told my dad that I was very nervous that I would break Howe's record.

Dad replied, “Don't be nervous, Gordy is very proud of you.

One day you will also be in this situation, and someone will rewrite your achievement already.

And now we're here, and Ovi has a chance.

I hope he does it, because it will be good for the game," Gretzky said.