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Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin during game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning, May 21, 2018, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Photo by Michael Miller.

Top 10 Facts about Alexander Ovechkin

Alexander Ovechkin is a Russian professional ice hockey player. He plays left wing for the Washington Capitals, an ice hockey team in Washington DC.

The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League, which is an ice hockey league in North America. It is one of the top-ranked professional sports leagues in the world.

Ovechkin was drafted by the Capitals in 2004. He has been playing for the team since then. He had however begun his career in 2001 at the Russian Super League where he made his professional debut.

His superb athletic performance has seen him break numerous records, win an array of awards, and put his team among the top.

He has been described as one of the greatest goal scorers of all time. Here are the top 10 facts about this incredible ice hockey talent!

1. Alexander Ovechkin was born on 17 September 1985

He was born in Moscow to athletic parents. His mother, Tatyana Ovechkin, is a former basketball player.

She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. She played for the Russian national team and won 6 European Championships, a World Championship, and two Olympic gold medals. 

His father, Mikhail, was a football player. Alexander fell in love with hockey at quite a young age, watching the game first on TV.

He was an active boy, quick on his feet and eager to learn. After completing his primary studies, he was enrolled at a sports school, where his serious hockey training began.

2. He is an alumnus of Dynamo Moscow’s Sports School

Dynamo Moscow, December 2017. Photo by Zorro2212.

Dynamo Moscow is a reputed Russian sports club located in Moscow. It has trained and nurtured great athletic talents such as Olympic medalists, fencer Galina Gorokhova, and gymnast Mikhail Voronin.

Alina Kabaeva, one of the most decorated rhythmic gymnasts, is also an alumnus of the club.

Alexander Ovechkin attended rigorous training sessions at Dynamo Moscow at a young age. He had been enrolled immediately after completing his primary schooling. At 11, he scored 56 goals, breaking Pavel Bure’s record of 53.

It was always his dream to play in the National Hockey League, which he described as ‘the best hockey there is.’ His childhood idol was Mario Lemieux, a former Canadian Ice hockey player.

3. Alexander Ovechkin began his professional career in 2001

This was at Dynamo Moscow and he was only 16 years. He played in the Russian Super League in the 2001-02 season and scored 4 points in 21 games.

He played for 3 more seasons at Dynamo Moscow before being selected to play in his dream league; the National Hockey League.

4. He was selected first overall in the 2004 National Hockey League Entry Draft

NHL Entry Draft at the Rogers Arena, 2019. It is held annually. Photo by Northwest.

The National Hockey League Entry Draft is a meeting held every year, in which NHL teams draft available amateur players. The first draft was in 1963.

There is a particular order in which teams get the chance to draft the players. The criteria include lottery, regular season standing, and playoff results. The weaker teams are given the first chance to take their picks.

Alexander was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2004. He had been quite a catch, with the Florida Panthers having attempted to draft him in the previous year’s entry draft. He had however not attained the age limit then. He signed with the Capitals in 2005.

5. Alexander has broken numerous records in NHL history

The list is long! In 2008, he scored his 59^th and 60^th goals of the season. The Capitals were playing against Atlanta Thrashers. Having done so, he became the first player in NHL to score 60 goals in a season since Mario Lemieux, his childhood idol.

A few days later, he added a goal, breaking the Capital’s record for goals in a single season. The record had been held by Dennis Maruk. In addition, he broke Robitaille’s record for most goals by a left-winger in a season.

6. He is the first player in NHL history to win 4 major regular-season awards

Alex Ovechkin addresses the crowd in front of the Wilson Building in Washington DC after receiving the key to the city in honor of his winning the NHL’s Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP for the 2007–2008 season. Photo by 1995hoo.

Yes! Alexander Ovechkin won 4 major trophies in a single season in 2008. These were the Art Ross Trophy, Lester B. Pearson Award, the Hart Memorial Trophy, and the Maurice Richard Trophy.

No player had managed to achieve such a feat before. He became the first player to do so.

7. He was named Captain of the Washington Capitals in 2010

On 5^th January 2010, Alexander was named Captain of his team, the Washington Capital. The former captain, Chris Clark signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Alexander became the first European and the second-youngest captain in team history.

8. Alexander Ovechkin has represented Russia in several World Championships

Alex Ovechkin at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Photo by S. Yume.

At 19, he played for the Russian National Team in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, becoming the youngest player in the tournament.

He played his first Winter Olympic Games in 2006. He helped Russia win gold at the 2008 IIHF World Championships.

He has represented Russia in the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, and 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 IIHF World Championships.

Russia won gold in the 2014 IIHF World Championships, in which Alexander participated.

9. He has won numerous awards and honors

Alexander Ovechkin with the Stanley Cup. Photo by Alexander Jonesi.

It is no wonder that Alexander has received over 20 awards, considering his incredible abilities on the field.

Some of these awards include the Calder Memorial Trophy (2006), NHL All-Rookie Team (2006), the NHL All-Star Game (12 times!), the Art Ross Trophy (2008), the Hart Memorial Trophy (2008, 2009, 2013), the Stanley Cup (2018), and the Wayne Gretzky International Award (2019).

He has been honored by Ride of Fame with a double-decker sightseeing bus in D.C Asteroid 257261 Ovechkin was named in his honor by Leonid Elenin.

10. He is married to Nastya Shubskaya

She is the daughter of Vera Glagoleva, a former Russian actress and film director. The two got engaged in 2015 and later married. They have two children.

The firstborn son is named after Alexander’s late brother, Sergei, who helped Alexander get to his hockey games when he was a kid.

He encouraged him to pursue hockey. Alexander credits him every time he scores by kissing his glove and pointing to the sky. The other son is named Ilya.