Some pictures from Novogorsk

By Ilya Eliseev, Gazeta.ru, July 22, 2008:

...And suddenly in the doors of Dynamo training center in Novogorsk appears... the Washington Capitals forward, 2008 world champion Alexander Ovechkin with the soccer ball in his hands.

Q.: Sasha, did you come to play soccer with the guys?
A.: No, I am not playing soccer. It's just a guy from the second team asked me to drop the ball here.

Q.: So why did you come to the center?
A.: I am going to workout. On the ground.

Q.: Will you go on the ice?
A.: Only on August 15th. It's too early now...

"We came here together, but on different cars," laughs Michael Victorovich, Ovechkin's Dad, who walked in following his son. "We came for training. I certainly won't, but he will, for sure."

As soon as Ovechkin appeared in Novogorsk, he was immediately surrounded by his former teammates.


A look by Ovechkin: how rapidly everything is changing in our center without me...

Ovechkin's interview to Russia Today

RussiaToday, July 31, 2008 (some excerpts from the interview):

After a rapid rise to stardom in his home country with Dynamo Moscow, the left winger was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2004.

He has just come off the back of an amazing season, notching up 112 points and over 60 goals.

"Of course I dreamed about achieving such great success and I'm happy I'm the league's best player and was voted the MVP,” he said. “But I need to keep up this standard, and I need to keep on working at my game to keep up these levels of play.”

As well as Ovechkin, other Russian players put in stunning performances during the last season. Pavel Datsyuk won the Stanley Cup, Evgeny Malkin scored 106 points, and Ilya Kovalchuk and Evgeny Nabokov were generally in great form.

"The Russians who play in the NHL don't just play - but most are leaders for their teams and play a big role," said Ovechkin.

North American hockey fans tend to prefer their own hockey players - but they've taken to Ovechkin as one of their own.

"I feel good when people recognise me on the street, and when fans say we love you - I'm proud of myself, my country and for my family that I'm from Russia and the Americans are supporting a Russian so strongly," he said.

How does Ovechkin rate Washington's chances in the Stanley Cup?

"We've got certain goals - we've got a good experienced side. We've added a new goaltender, and everything's in our own hands," he said.

Ovechkin and Alyona Larionov

Here's the report from Paparazzi.ru, July 31, 2008 "Alexander Ovechkin found his true love":

The young couple have already appeared together at one formal event. This happened at the NHL awards ceremony in Toronto. That was the first time when Alyona accompanied Alex in public. The young couple smiled to each other a lot and looked very happy. But knowing Ovechkin, his attraction to ladies and his young age, few could've imagined that these relations will become more than just flirting.

Yesterday Alex appeared with many other famous guests at the "Grand Havana Room" restaurant at the press conference of the Friends of the Olympics House.

Sitting at a table at that formal event Ovechkin looked noticeably bored, he was stretching, yawning and rubbing his eyes. But as soon as the press conference was over, he gave a couple of pre-scheduled interviews and left. His beloved was already waiting for him on the street.



Looking busy and talking on a cell, which we thought she didn't let go from her ear the whole evening, the girl took Alex by the arm and they went to his car, a white BMW M6. On the way to the car they offered a lift to two of their friends, one of then was Irina Slutskaya's and Yevgeny Plushenko's agent Ari Zakarian.

All four got into Ovechkin's luxury car and began to whirl on the Leningrad highway towards the suburbs.


The companions of beloved couple got out of the car near the Dynamo subway station. Alex, like a true gentleman, got out and hugged his friends, Ari and his girl, he kissed a redhead in a cheek.

He then went back to the steering wheel of his sports car. Apparently looking forward to further developments Ovechkin stepped on the gas pedal so hard that he instantly disappeared from our view, taking with him Larionov's daughter. No wonder, Alex is considered one of the fastest hockey players in the world, he can accelerate fast.

All in all, all the best to the lovebirds!

More pictures from Paparazzi.ru...


No wonder he was listening Ave Maria. :-)

from the interview to SovSport, July 24, 2008 P.L.: What did you listen to on your player during this workout? Ave Maria. There are two girls who sing the pop. They will be the superstars soon. I found their divine music on the Internet and now I only train while listening to them. If you taking an electric chair I recommend it with the music of Ave Maria", jokes Ovechkin. We should clarify that the "two girls" are Alyonka and Diana, the daughters of Igor Larionov. They sang "Ave Maria" in the Red Square last winter before the hockey game.

From Japer's Rink, June 14, 2008 (after the couple appeared at NHL awards ceremony):

While we have no doubt that Ovechkin's intentions are pure, we can't help but imagine the possibility of a skater two decades from now with Ovechkin's scoring ability and physicality, and Igor Larionov's playmaking skills who can hit every note in Ave Maria.

Diana and Alyonka Larionov red carpet interview

Ovechkin in St. Petersburg

Alex Ovechkin will be in St. Petersburg on August 1 to August 6, according to AllHockey.ru. He won't participate, but will be a guest of the Puchkov memorial hockey tournament, along with Radulov, Malkin, Gonchar and Igor Larionov.

Ovechkin is still training with Moscow Dynamo hockey team. Dynamo.ru has an article about Dynamo players collecting money for a young hockey player Igor Antosik who died while running cross-country race a week ago. He was a Moscow Dynamo alumni. This is a third Russian hockey player in the last 10 years who died in cross country race during pre-season training.

In 2001 the captain of Tolyatti Lada (Alex Semin's former team) Vyacheslav Bezukladninkov lost consciousness (and later died) while running a cross-country race with the team. In 1988 the same happened to another Tolyatti Lada hockey player, Andrei Zemko.

Anyway they interviewed Alex Badukov, one of the team leaders:

Q.: Did the cross country race last for more than an hour like it was during the first workout?

A.: Yes, and I love it. Today Sasha Ovechkin joined us... We immediately increased the pace, but he stayed, didn't drop from the race...


Here's what Ovechkin said about those cross-country races (from his interview to Sport-Express, July 18, 2008)

Who of your coaches had the toughest monstrous workout program? Krikunov. Maybe another one was Bilyaletdinov. What I saw in America, their workout regimens are not even close. That's why I never had any problems in Washington's pre-season training camp. Were there the drills after which you'd cry? Cross-country race. 10 kilometers at the time. Around the training camp in Novogorsk? No, around the soccer field at the stadium. Everybody was running like crazy, the pulse was over two hundred. Some couldn't finish.

Correction: The interview with Alex Badukov was conducted by Dmitri Ponomarenko, SovSport.ru, and Dynamo.ru just reprinted it.

The Dead Things and the Hockey Town

Tim Lemke, The Washington Times:

The Washington Capitals' run to the playoffs has created an unprecedented level of interest in new season tickets for the upcoming season.

When Stevie Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov came to Detroit, the Red Wings were called the Dead Things. When they left three Stanley Cups later, it was a hockey town.



When Alex Ovechkin... (finish for me... :-) It's Ovie time and Caps time now!



The Washington Capitals unprecedented appearance on the home page of ESPN web site.

Ovechkin's videos from Reebok.com

Alex Ovechkin trains the moves for the next All-Star game. :-)

Here's the link to Reebok...

Jagr sez Ovechkin will score 70

Alexander Ovechkin's 65 goals of 2007-2008 season from OvechkinFans.com via YouTube:


Jarg's arrival to Russia continues to be a big deal. He is all over, what kind of apartment he got, how well he slept, and so on. Pavel Lysenkov doesn't leave Omsk now, he lives there. :-) While he was conducting one of the many interviews that Jagr gives every day to Russian media, he hooked up Ovechkin and Jagr over the phone.

Ovechkin: How long will you play in Russia?
Jagr: Two years. And then I'll go back to the Czech Republic. You see, I can't play in the NHL anymore. You're much better than me. What should I do in the league where Ovechkin scored 65 goals and I scored only 25? I was so bad that, like a man, I couldn't help but leave (Jagr's laughing, Alex is laughs too.) If you could've scored 40 and I could make 30, then it would make sense to stay for another year. But now I understand that I have nothing more to catch in the NHL. The NHL has Ovechkin now.

Ovechkin: Well, Jardo, I wish you the best of luck in Russia.
Jagr: And I wish you to win the Stanley Cup!

Jagr (turns to Lysenkov): The next season Ovechkin will score 70. How can one catch him? I am amazed where this guy gets so much energy. You can't get it just by training, you have to be born like that. They broke his nose, Ovechkin got mad and scored four vs. Montreal. How one can reproduce that? He is a unique talent!

This is the second interview conducted by Ovechkin. The first one was when he interviewed Mike Green. :-)

Alexander the Great will be in Beijing

Click to enlarge.


By Pavel Lysenkov, SovSport.ru, July 24, 2008 "Going to Beijing to root for basketball team": (The article in pdf file)

As of today Alexander Ovechkin, the best hockey player in the world, is training hard during his off-season training, He is running cross-country crosses in the forest near Novogorsk, the suburb of Moscow. The Washington Capitals forward says that he is now ready to run a marathon at the Olympics. If this is a joke, you are right, but in August Alexander the Great will be in Beijing to root for the basketball team.

While Alex is running cross country somewhere in the forest your correspondent adjusts himself on the hot bench and begins the conversation with Mikhail Viktorovich, Ovechkin's father. Uncle Misha [Michael Ovechkin] is in complete delight. The other day he visited with his son Nizhny Novgorod. And now he believes that the city's infrastructure is not much inferior to America.

"I was stationed there when I was drafted in the army in the 1972-1973", says Ovechkin the Senior. "Back then Nizhny Novgorod was a gray, grim place. When I came back I couldn't believe my eyes. The small local town Lyskovo with population of only 26 thousand people has the hockey arena, the shooting gallery, and the swimming pool. And it is planned to build 16 more similar arenas in Nizhny Novgorod region!

I was crazed when I saw that children in schools are picked by the buses, as it is in the States. The groceries are full of food, the streets are clean. I became a fan of Nizhny Novgorod. Especially because some former Dynamo players like Chubarov, Kharitonov and Troschinsky will be playing for Nizhny Novgorod's Torpedo next season…

Alex went there to work with Alex Kovalev on hockey clinic for kids. The arena was sold out. I went out to have a smoke and asked the local guys what they were thinking about their Governor Valerie Shantsev. They almost applauded, "We won the lottery with him!"

P.L: I think you've exaggerated a bit on America's comparison.
M.O.: Why? In general, we are accustomed to underestimate Russia. For example, when the hockey player arrives to Russia from abroad [or from other Russian club] he gets an apartment, a car, a satellite dish, [all paid by the team] relocation money... In the NHL the player gets $ 100 per diem and he has to take care of himself. Before Alex bought a house in Arlington we were renting an apartment in front of the White House. Two rooms, one bathroom, a kitchen. That's all.

Meanwhile Ovechkin Jr. returns from his cross country race. He takes a sit. Tired, he opens a bottle of mineral water. Next to him is his fitness trainer Dmitri Kapitonov, fresh and ready. No wonder, Kapitonov is a marathoner with experience, he was competing in 2000 Olympics in Sydney.


"I am asking a favor, please don't make pictures of me", says Ovechkin. "The summer vacation is evident. Here it is, the fold on my stomach. Until I'll lose weight, no compromising pictures!" ..."Ok, just kidding. I was never overweight" Alexander smiles. "I have an excellent body, not an extra gram of fat. A washboard stomach... Call this reporting "The weekdays of Ovechkin the bodybuilder"… Hey, Dima, [he turns to Kapitonov] what is next? Hello? Houston?

...




Do you know that Sidney Crosby is the best hockey player of the year according to ESPN?
Congratulation to Crosby. He deserved it. (quickly answers Ovechkin.)

Wait, he didn't play a half of a season. And you got a bunch of trophies, including Hart Trophy for the most valuable player in the NHL. Don't you think it is not fair that on ESPN version Crosby is the best?
He has taken Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup finals. And in general I can not collect absolutely all of the awards. One shouldn't be so greedy.

Do you know that one American rapper mentions you in his song? He argues that "one Alex Ovechkin is better than twenty Gretzky's".


Is that Eminem? (Sasha smiles). No, I haven't heard about this hit. But Caps fans recently composed a song in my honor.






It has something like, "When they broke his nose, he hammered in four goals"... against Montreal. And all of this to the tune of some slamming music like Rammstein. Well, it is true, you can't break your nose to Mozart.

...


P.L.: Washington already has four Russians, Ovechkin, Semin, Viktor Kozlov, Sergei Fedorov. At two more are in, Simeon Varlamov and Victor Dovgan.


Yes, we'll bypass Detroit with their Russian 5. (Alex smiles)

P.L.: It is happening because of your influence? Does the management consults with you when acquiring new players?
Sometimes I call George McPhee just to hear what's happening. But nobody asks me for any advice. Our superiors have their own heads on their shoulders. I got very excited when we signed a new contract with Fedorov. This is a serious improvement. Generally speaking Washington is almost at no loss, we only lost Matt Cook and we've replaced the goalie. I think that next season we should go further than the first round of playoffs.

P.L.: Where is Fedorov now?
I called him, but his cell was turned off. I think Sergei is somewhere in Miami on the beach relaxing.

P.L.: How will you spend the rest of the summer?
On July 29 I'll be flying along with Dynamo to Peter [St. Petersburg]. It's because Dima now works as a fitness trainer in our club. And I am going to Beijing for three days on August 9th. I was chosen as the face [of Russia?] in the Olympics.


P.L.: Yes, I've already seen the posters with your image on the streets of Moscow. So, you won't train for three days?
Why not? They will release the beach volleyball site for me. They'll cancel the competitions for Ovechkin to jog on the sand… More seriously I am going there to primarily root for the national team. I want to go to basketball games. Masha Kirilenko, the wife of Andrei Kirilenko who is the team's captain, already invited me to go. I think I can catch the games against Iran on August 10 and Croatia on 12th.

"And of course, a marathon", adds Kapitonov."I didn't train Ovechkin for nothing".

...

P.L.: What did you listen to on your player during this workout?
Ave Maria. There are two girls who sing the pop. They will be the superstars soon. I found their divine music on the Internet and now I only train while listening to them. If you taking an electric chair I recommend it with the music of Ave Maria", jokes Ovechkin.

We should clarify that the "two girls" are Alyonka and Diana, the daughters of Igor Larionov. They sang "Ave Maria" in the Red Square last winter before the hockey game.

P.L.: I noticed a purple scar on your right thigh. Where did you get it?
I was cut in the game against Pittsburgh. I was trying to hit, the opponent put his skate out. I had to leave to the locker room to fix it.

P.L.: And how many games you've missed?
None. The next day we've played against Ottawa and I scored four goals.

P.L.: It is amazing!
Russians don't surrender! :-) And now do you understand why I'd die in the summer while training with Kapitonov? [Because I want to be] more alive than any other living creature in the winter!

Free Tibet! (Disclaimer: This is my comment not representing Ovechkin's point of view by any stretch of imagination)

Datsyuk is 30 years old

Ok, why about Datsyuk here, in Ovechkin's blog? Well, he is Ovechkin's buddy (and who is not?), Semin chose him as a best NHL player (Oh, well...). But the main thing is that the interview is funny, "I only remember the first shot" :-)

By Pavel Lysenkov, sovsport.ru, July 23, 2008

Last Sunday one of the best hockey players of the world, the Stanley Cup winner Pavel Datsyuk turned 30 years old. But all these compliments can only make the him more shy. Datsyuk is such a modest guy that your correspondent had to spend three days to catch him and to congratulate him on his birthday on behalf of "Soviet Sport". And finally the interview was conducted…

I remember only the first toast.

Q. Pavel Valerievich, do you know that you were born on the International Day of chess players and simultaneously the same day as Peter Forsberg (1973) and on the day when the Americans landed on the Moon (1969)?
A. So many facts, so many events… I am not sure about Americans, I wasn't there with them on the Moon. As of Forsberg... I am very happy. And why do you call me with the middle name? [In Russia it's the same as to say Mr. Datsyuk, my comment]

Q. Just deemed that a player after 30 years is already a veteran. Don't you have the same opinion?
A. I don't care if I am 47 (like Chelios), I only care to be good at playing hockey. In general there are many advantages for veterans. For example, when Scotty Boyman was Detroit's head coach, he announced that during the season he will arrange regular breaks for those who were over 30. Thomas Holmstrom, poor boy, he had his 30th at the end of January. If you could see how happy he was on his birthday.

Q. And NHL has a rule that the players who played more than 600 games in NHL can take a single room when traveling, rather than share it with a roommate.
A. I still haven't reach it up to the standards (Datsyuk has 445 games), but they already gave me that. Now I live alone, in silence and tranquility.

Q. How did you celebrate your birthday?
A. Without the silence and tranquility. Although I am not a big fan of holidays, but still it was the anniversary...I invited all my friends in Yekaterinburg, we went to the restaurant.

Q. Which toast was the most memorable?
A. The first. The rest were in like in the fog.

Q. As of first toast, who wished the health to a birthday boy?
A. It was me. I took the initiative and thanked the comrades for showing up.

We celebrated at Chelios restaurant

Q. How do you spend your summer so far?
A. I am very busy. Here in mid-July I held a week-long hockey clinic for kids from Ekaterinburg. We have invited some coaches from America, eight people responded. I believe that everything went super. The children were very happy, and I liked it. Now I'm going to organize those clinics every year.

Q. Do you want to become a coach?
A.If only someone needs an assistant. To be a kids coach is a very hard work, to which I am not ready yet. First and foremost you need to have a tremendous patience. And I don't always have it.

Q. In June you won your second Stanley Cup. Tell us how this victory was celebrated in Detroit.
A. We became the champions in Pittsburgh. We flew from there and we had a banquet at the airport. The next day we had dinner with the club owner Mike Illitch. And then a victory parade. We were riding in the cars with a cup, I was with my wife and daughter, and the crowd welcomed us.

Q. About 20,000?
A. Are you kidding, a million or more.. We also celebrated at Chris Chelios restaurant, he invited all of us. It was a week long celebration. Darn, what a joyful time it was! And then I flew to the ceremony in Toronto where the trophies were handed to the best players.

Q. You received the Lady Bing Trophy as well as Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward. Where do you keep all these trophies?
A. Why, do you think I have a lot of them? Just three.

Q. But you've got the Lady Bing for the third consecutive year!
A. Do you think I get on the ice in a smoking tuxedo suit? It just happen that I have a few penalty minutes. I respect the opponents. But I can hit if needed.

(Datsyuk was one of the leaders in hits in the playoffs for Detroit).

Q. By the way, did you get any offers from KHL?
A. No. I have a contract with Detroit.

Q. As demonstrated in the Radulov's case, it's not going to stop the Russian clubs.
A. I still believe that the NHL is the world's top league. That's why I am interested to play here , to improve my hockey skills there.

Q. When will you bring the Stanley Cup to Russia?
A. On August 11 in Yekaterinburg. I have ambitious plans, but I won't talk about. This is going to be a surprise.

This email made my day

Thanks a ton Your work on the Ovechkin and Semin interviews was wonderful, and both are just great reads. Thanks for the time and effort, and hopefully I was able to send some extra readers your way.   Greg Wyshynski Editor - Puck Daddy, Yahoo! Sports Blogs

I've spend entire weekend translating those articles and wondering why I was doing that...

Thanks, Greg!

Ovechkin started pre-season training

Regina Sevostianova, Dynamo.ru, July 20, 2008 "Kapitonov: Ovechkin and Malkin don't even take the vitamins"

The marathoner Dmitri Kapitonov was introduced to the club by no other than Alexander Ovechkin, said Dynamo president Mikhail Golovkov. Ovechkin now comes to the training center of Moscow Dynamo in Novogorsk to work out under the guidance of Kapitonov. He worked out under guidance of his friend last year in St. Petersburg, together with 11 other players, including Yevgeny Malkin. And he surprised everyone last season with his simply superb physical readiness.

That is why Dynamo has the right to expect the same results from their new fitness coach.

Regina Sevostianova: How did you accept the Dynamo's offer?
I have accumulated some experience working with the hockey players. Well, that and Alex Ovechkin introduced me.

The fitness coaches can relatively easy change the sports. It all similar?
Not all, but a lot is similar. Every coach knows this, it's a cardio workout and the muscles workout. In different sports there are different muscle groups involved. The experienced coach knows what groups of muscles needs to be trained. Therefore he can work with boxers, swimmers. And his work would be fruitful. This is more a matter of qualifications and experience rather than a type of sport.

You probably followed in the season those players with whom you did pre-season training last year?
Yes. Everyone felt awesome. I was giving advices to the players when they went on vacation, then when we trained, and when they departed to the NHL. I wrote workout plans for them. And I flew there and they consulted with me. The main training was done during the summer. This is the foundation. This is the main thing. This is what we are doing now with Dynamo.

Are you a hockey fan?
I am slowly becoming the one. I am not familiar with the Russian league so far. I am accustomed to the NHL, I went there. I have some favorites now.

Who is it, if not a secret?
I root for Pittsburgh and Washington, of course.

Who among NHL players was the most interesting to work with?
It was interesting to work with everyone. Because all of them are professionals. It's always interesting to work with those who want to work. For example with him (Kapitonov pops on the knee of Alexander Ovechkin who joined a second ago), very interesting to work with him (Ovechkin is smiling).

Did you watch the Euro?
Yes I did.

Once the Russians had run the most miles in the first round of Euro, the European press began to write that it couldn't be done without doping...
No, no. It's stupid. Ovechkin, for example, doesn't even take the vitamins. Same with Malkin. I am talking about the world class hockey players. Who are considered the best in the world. If they are training by the plan they don't need any doping. Seriously.

What do you think, can you win purely on the physical fitness?
You can. We trained and talked a lot with Andrei Nikolishin. He believes that some play because of their talent, some from the class, and some from their physics. If there is a universal man, who has all three components combined, he is the king. Or a God. I'm not sure that there are such people. Maybe there will be in the future. Ovechkin has it all.

I see he is your favorite.
They are all good. But on a human side I like Alex very much. We are friends with him. We work together.

Alex Semin talks about life, God and Ovechkin

By Igor Rudik, RedYarsk.ru, July 10, 2008

Alexander, it hasn't been long since the triumph of team Russia at the World Championship in Canada where you played like real heroes. Did you have time to realize the greatness of what you have done?
When we arrived in Moscow and came out of the plane a huge crowd was greeting us. The flowers, applause, cries of delight, the fuss of celebration... Only then we realized what we have done.

It's not just about that our hockey players couldn't win the World Championship for 15 years...
Yes, it was also a 100 year anniversary of the International Ice Hockey Federation...

...And it was the first World Championship's tournament held at the home of the game. Never before the world championships were held in Canada.
Here, I didn't even know that.

Do you feel pity that you were not included in media All Star team? You were worth of that.
The most important thing is that the team has won. I am fully satisfied with my game; 2 goals in the final plus one assist. What else is needed to feel good?

And now you have visited President Medvedev...
They drove us [from the airport] and [at first] we did sightseeing over... What we have there?

Well, Kremlin, apparently.
Yes, we did sightseeing of the Kremlin. Showed us all the attractions. Everything's beautiful, everything's gilded. Then we met, he congratulated us.

You may have all kept humbly politely silent. And he was doing all the job.
I think he was a little awkward himself.

For him it was also a novelty.
Yes, it's not so long since he became a president. Well, maybe it's been a while, but he still is not accustomed to it yet. When you read [your speech] from the paper and don't even know what is written there, that, I think, is very difficult. One could see his awkwardness. But this is normal. We listened, drank champagne, photographed. And then we left.


The media has already glorified Ovechkin's beach slippers, he was wearing them at the reception.
Well, he flew in, had nothing to wear, it happened. There are badder things that happened. Of course, someone could be surprised. Not a big deal, I think.

Initially, perhaps, it was purely a human thing to think, "Ouch, now we have to drag ourselves to the celebration. And, on top of that, to the Kremlin". I bet it was like that, dog gone it, the formalities started...
This is our work. We won. And must appear before Russia, to see the fan's faces.

NHL teaches [everyone] to be politically correct. Over there you can't say unnecessary word, a strict etiquette, many conditionalities.
It's true. Every person should understand who and how he represents. Once again I'd say; only the best people in hockey are playing for the national team. They should be better in their ordinary life, in their everyday behavior. To be honest, yes, we were very tired. Flying over the ocean and immediately going to the Kremlin. And we have not been instructed, "wear this, do that".

And then each left their own homeland, large and small...
Yes, everybody went to their own destination. I flew to Krasnoyarsk that night.

This was clearly your best tournament. And in general, probably the most successful appearance for the national team.
One can say that, so it is.

And what do you remember the most from the past appearances for the national team?
In Austria, it was the world championship in 2003. There in Vienna we lost in the semi's to Canadians, 3:4. It was a game of principle, we fought such a hard battle; we were losing 0:4, and than we made it 3:4. But we were a bit unfortunate, didn't have enough power.

In connection with the Vancouver-2010, where will be the Olympics held? No plans yet?
Why bother with predictions? A lot of time left, two years. We'll have the World Championships tournament in Switzerland next year. How our team will play? Maybe the Capitals will get into playoffs, maybe we'll battle for the Stanley Cup.

But if nothing prevent you, then...
When I'll get an invitation from the national team, then I will think.

How important is the personality of the coach for you? Some of our hockey stars have some coaches they can't stand.
It's true. Virtually every other player has it.

Is there a coach to whom you won't go?
I haven't noticed it in me from the very childhood. And I hope it won't happen ever. If I'm invited to play for the Russian national team, it is always a pleasure. The pleasure and a great honor, to play for a top team of your country.

And what about that unfortunate case when you were late because of the small delays in Krasnoyarsk, and you were dismissed from the team? Was it Bykov who let you go back then?
The Head coach.

It was Bykov?
Yes. But I don't have any resentment. If I had a resentment, I wouldn't come to this world championship. And if I still showed up, it means I have the desire, the mood and motivation to play for the Russian national team.

Let's go back in time and remember your Krasnoyarsk's beginning of the path to the top. It is not given to everyone to start in the city far from hockey and rise above the crowd.
When I started playing hockey, there was some hockey in the city. I think we had a Class A team, in my opinion.

Yes, the second league, the eastern zone, the hockey club named Falcon. And in what year you started, do you remember?
In 1989...

Maxim Galanov, our first player who went overseas, did he already leave?
Yes, he was not in Krasnoyarsk back then. And I started playing hockey in kindergarten, when I was five.


Was it also in Zelenaja Roscha, with the Falcon?
Yes, yes, yes...

But the school apparently was near, right? Was it school #98?
I was in school #141 on Voronov street. Ten minutes' walk from the Falcon. We lived near.

Everybody went to sign up and you too, right? Or did someone invite you?
My Dad was playing hockey, he was the coach. I think it's mostly goes to Dad's credit [why I started to play]

And who raised you as a child?
In general, Dad and Mom. But on the ice it was basically Dad, of course. Mom was traveling with me since I was 15. Dad at first was a head coach, then worked as a manager at KrAZ (Krasnoyarsk aluminum plant). And when he retired, started to train young kids. When I played already in Togliatti, my Dad went there and coached the second team. When I went to America for the first time, I went alone, Mom came after half of a season passed. Dad visited me only this year.

Do your parents live there?
They come, they leave. Hard to live there permanently. For them it's even harder to change, I think, than for me. Because they grew up here, they have been living in Siberia for so long that they can never become Americans, hundred per cent.

I've heard the name Semin in Krasnoyarsk hockey in the late seventies.
This was my Dad's brother and Dad himself. Valery Semin and Yuri Semin. They played well. Dad at one time tried to leave for the Voskresensk Khimik, but something failed.

What about famous soccer coach Yuri Semin, do you know him?
Never crossed his path.

He is now a head coach for Kiev Dynamo, but earlier he coached team Russia.
Of course I heard about him, but is unlikely we'll ever meet. I don't go to soccer games. And in any case it would be ridiculous on my part to send greetings to the person with the same last name.

I used to go to Falcon games in the 80s. And I know many of our old players: Lappa, Sarana, Karepov...
My Dad is even older than them.

Also Gribov, Zaitsev, Andronov, Sazhnev...
Yes, I know all of them too. When I was little I skated with them all the time. They played decent for Falcon, now they are veterans.

And when you got better and realized that you above the Krasnoyarsk level of hockey?
I left from here when I was 15. Played one year in Tyumen. Then three years in Chelyabinsk. After that I moved in Togliatti. And from there I got in the NHL.

Where there the scouts that started "Come over for tryouts?"
Yes, exactly.

How old were you when you ended up in NHL?
I left when I was 19, soon after I turned 20. I was chosen by Washington Capitals and that was it, we agreed that I'll come. If it won't work, I'll go back to Russia.

Who of our guys was playing for Washington back then?
Zubrus and Gonchar.

Was it a completely different Capitals team than now?
When I came to Capitals the team was much stronger than now because there were practically all stars. Prior to that they lost in playoffs, in the quarterfinals, I think.They lost in shootouts or something, I don't remember exactly. Jagr, Bondra, Gonchar were playing.. There were a lot of famous players. But at the end of the season they all were traded. And the team was left with nothing. For two years until Ovechkin came, it was a scene of great stagnation. Now, yes, we are a young team, a good, fast team. Exactly what is needed for these times.

Did you have a culture shock, from poor Russia to spoiled United States, from European hockey to overseas hockey, where even the rinks are different?
I can only say about hockey. For me there was nothing unexpected. The only thing is that the game over there is more physical and faster. Other than that it's all the same.

Did you play in AHL?
I went there once after a season in the NHL. I was asked to play for the second team to help them get into playoffs. After two rounds we were out. The hockey over there, of course, is not the same as in the NHL.

Let's go back to the World Cup. Do you think you could win without Nabokov who played excellent?
It is now difficult to say something. The work is done. Yes, you can guess, if it would not be... Without Evgeni it would be harder, because he is one of the best goalkeepers in NHL. I think he gave the confidence to many of our defensemen. And to the whole team in general. Eremenko, of course, did well until the injury. And, perhaps could do more, going further. Biryukov has a very little experience. But Eremenko could play well.

Ilya Bryzgalov probably regrets about his decision.
He refused. Maybe he regrets, but it's his own business. Whatever is done, it's all done for the better.

Do you remember 1998 in Nagano, Japan, we had an excellent Russian team? The guys played awesome, could get gold. Pavel Bure worked miracles. Can we compare these two teams?
I doubt I can compare them well. First of all I didn't play there. And, moreover, I vaguely remember those games. And the Olympics are different than the Worlds. Each tournament on top level is played differently.

About the final game. I had the impression that Canadians are themselves a reason why they lost. Their Coach Hitchcock imposed defensive tactics to retain the score. When they were ahead by two goals, they could increase the gap many times, but they tried to keep the score.
I believe that it was not the case. We really lost the first period, but mostly because we had too many penalties, in fact, we played four against five all the time. In the second and third periods we imposed our game, started playing the type of hockey we are the best at. We didn't adjust to their game, but they were forced to adjust to our game. We were simply one step ahead, just what our coach wanted. We got it. That's all.

Russia, of course, didn't have the first team. Malkin, Datsyuk didn't play. But Canada didn't have their stars either.
Why? They had a good team. Who they did not have?

Crosby, who is now like a real personification of their nation.
We could also have Malkin who can perform like three guys. It's hard to say that if those players who are best in the NHL will come and play, they automatically will be the best team. It is not. Yes, you can be a leader in your team, but the national team is the national team. You play hockey as a team, and the leaders sometimes perform unusual functions they are not used to.

Were you arguably better at the world championship than when played for Capitals?
At first my season started as a failure. I was injured. I didn't play for 2.5 months. And then everything went on. When there were 15 games left before the playoffs, I started to get in shape. And the worlds were later. I peaked. And it all got together.

Did you follow the Stanley Cup finals?
Yes, it all came out naturally. I was rooting for Detroit. Not because it was opposite to someone, I simply like Detroit more.

Datsyuk is super.
Yes, of course. Plus Zetterberg, Lidstrom. Pittsburgh had a good team too; Crosby, Gonchar, Malkin, Hossa, but this year Detroit was unstoppable.

Pavel Datsyuk is increasingly compared to Igor Larionov.
I don't know, I like Pasha more than anybody. Everybody has their opinion about the players.

Who is number one in the NHL?
At the moment? I'd select Pasha Datsyuk. This is a player I like for a very long time. He has the best hands.

It is believed that since Gretzky and Lemieux the game in the NHL is even faster.
Now most players are skating better. And the game is more physical.

Nobody skates better than Bure.
I haven't yet seen such a player to be honest.

You mean the one who is a better skater?
The one who plays, and shoots, and one on one...

Is it time for NHL to slightly change the rules?
What do you mean?

Isn't the rink too small for a dozen men in armor?
It creates a spectacle.

Because it is crowded?
Well, of course. More shots, more physical battles.

But in overtime when it's four on four, it's more spacious, and it looks better.
I disagree. The crowd is bigger on every game, that's the criterion.

Our newspaper "Competitor" is published in Krasnoyarsk and also in Novosibirsk. There they have Siberia, the Superleague team. What do you think happen if Siberia and Capitals would play a series of up to four victories…
Well I don't know who plays there.

I don't know either. Siberia is probably the 10th team in Russia.
In my opinion Capitals are obliged to beat them. I won't say to sweep, but to beat.

4:2?
If the series of up to four victories, then 4:1. Maybe 4:2.

Do you remember that crazy goal in the finals by Dany Heatley, a lightning shot right next to the pole. In my opinion it was the most beautiful goal of entire championship.
The fourth goal? He partially fanned. I swear. The puck came off his hook.

But the goalkeeper did not even move.
No, why, Zhenka [Nabokov] said he moved, he simply put the pad a bit wrong.

You still think he fanned?
I saw that. And I didn't notice a lightning shot either.

In addition to Washington Capitals, is there any NHL team you wouldn't mind to leave to? The same Detroit, for example?
I am not a fan of changing the environment. I am such a person that I am satisfied with everything in Washington. Never thought about leaving. And how to leave? You decided to play for another team and you leave? There is no such thing in NHL. If they trade you, they won't ask where you want to.

Washington DC is a city much more boring than New York.
But it's harder to play in New York.

Why?
Because we are young and everything is interesting for us. And New York is like second Moscow, everything is open there for 24 hours. Too many temptations, and the buzz and the noise.

Plus there are two NHL teams.
Even three. New Jersey is based nearby.

How about exotic hockey south? Florida, home of Panters or California, the residence of Ducks?
There, I think, is even harder to play. Florida, Miami, always sunny, the beach. You understand what's there.

Washington has NBA team to watch, Wizards...
Yes, we go to their games all the time. Very interesting. There are some outstanding basketball teams with big stars.

Are you playing at different arenas?
The same arena. They just cover the ice and that's all.

Have you seen Michael Jordan when he played for Washington?
I missed him by a little bit, he ended his career. His brother now coaches Wizards.

Have you heard that Anna Kournikova and Sergei Fedorov were almost married?
I know, of course, like everyone.

Have you discussed this love affair among the players? If these two stars got married? Or all of this is nonsense?
Well, Anya was dating a lot of guys. Now she lives with Iglesias.

Do you have a lady in your heart?
I don't.

You are an enviable bachelor, rich, handsome, young, with the future.
So far I have not met anyone.

But if something...
No, I am not ready to marry. Though time will tell. At first you need to know the person, and then make conclusions.

Will it be a Russian girl or anybody?
Of course would be nice if it would be someone from your city. Here are all the friends, relatives. I doubt it would be good if I am from here and she is from there. However one can't predict. We'll see.

Let's talk about the personal life. For the everyday life, does all suits you in America? A lot of our players are getting resident there. For example, Larionov.
Over there? He played his whole life in America. His family, children are in the States.

Can it happen to you?
I won't even go that far. At the moment I wouldn't want to live there. But anything can happen.

And what you don't like the most? The environment?
Well, yes. It's boring there. And everything is different. But now I do not want to make any predictions. There will be another time, it may take ten years, fifteen…

Do you like the food at least? Those fast foods are loathsome.
You getting tired of it. But you have to, and you are getting used to.

And what are you getting tired of?
All meals.

Even the smell of it?
No, you can eat it, it is tasty. The meat is cooked much tastier than in Russia. The rest is the same, but there is some aftertaste in everything. But you are getting used to it.

You said before that you were renting a house in Washington.
Now I got the house. I bought it this year. A lot easier now.

How many floors?
Three.

Are you satisfied with the land? Over there the house prices depend on the size of the land.
It depends also on location, in what part of the town. I live next to the training arena. 15 minutes away. I am happy with everything.

No exhaust from huge trucks?
No, they don't have it. It all seems like outside of the city and surrounded with green trees. The green trees are all over.

Still you missing something, what is it?
The Russian sauna. Unfortunately one can't built it on its own land. You can [build] a Finnish sauna. Or Turkish, whatever it is. But you can't build Russian sauna. I don't know why. They have those strict fire codes.

Did you have any conflicts or at least contacts with the State? Maybe the cops were after you in the bar. Or you got arrested for speeding…
Knock on wood, I didn't have anything like that. So far so good. There everything is taken seriously, in particular, for excessive speed. We regard it as trifles, and there it is very strict.

Do you have a speedy car?
Mercedes. Very old, a rattletrap. (Laughing)

I'll write as you said. I might add its stolen.
Nice merc, CLS class. I am completely satisfied with it. The engine is 6.3.

The hypothesis: to be the NHL hockey player means doing hard labor. One hundred games per season, it's impossible.
Why impossible? As you can see we are playing.

It is incomprehensible, every third day you fly. Aren't you getting crazy?
Yes, but what can I do? This is your work. You came here not for entertainment.

It is possible, of course, to make 60 games per season, but then you'll lose money.
You won't lose anything. You are paid for the regular season. You are not paid for playoff games.

And what if they would say, "Let's play 120 games". This would also be your work. What's then?
You simply won't have time to play all these games. There won't be any breaks.

Do the flights wear you out?
We are playing not so far from home. We fly to Canada once per season, its 5 hours flight. Other than that we fly at most 2.5 hours to Florida. And the rest is an hour or 40 minutes.

How about Los Angeles?
We never flew there. We are in different conferences.

And when you fly, how do you deal with boredom?
We play poker. All the time. We have 6 people, die-hard players, who constantly play.

There should be a table for that.
We have our own charter plane. There are the seats with the tables. We sit, we play.

Are you playing for a personal win?
Of course, not just for nothing.

And who is Capitals champion in poker?
Backstrom is pretty good. But its different all the time. Once one guy will win, then another guy, then another.

You don't have any problems with the language, do you?
A bit. I am still shy a bit, but each year it's getting better and better. I won't say I speak English well, but I can chat.

5 more years and you can write the books [in English].
Why? A couple of years would be enough.

You don't like the interviews in English, do you?
No, I don't give them.

Have you ever been beaten up by any enforcer?
Why would one beat me up? They beat up each other.

Do you have a bodyguard on ice?
Brashear is managing it. But he is not my bodyguard, he is everyone's.

Sounds like old Donald is not giving up his enforcer rank? He is already 36.
No, I think he has some gas left.

What about a healthy lifestyle? Do you violate it rarely, but still violate?
I think one can't live without it. There are some people who don't drink at all, but I am not one of them. Sometimes it helps in difficult situations. Or simply to relieve from the stress. Although I am too young to have stress.

Do you have any secret that helps to stay healthy, cheerful and resourceful? Like sleep for 15 hours?
In Washington I sleep a lot. Go to bed at midnight, get up at 9:00am. Go to morning skate. Sleep again, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. This is because there is nothing else to do over there, that's why I sleep all the time.

Where there any incidents because of your sleeping routine?
It was once in Canada. I think we were playing Finns in semifinals at 5:00pm or 5:30pm. I went to bed at 2:00pm. I was going to wake up at 4:15pm because we were leaving at 4:50pm. And I woke up at 4:55pm! I woke up myself without alarm. I've put the phone on vibrate, everybody's calling me. Nobody knew where I was, they were worried. If I wouldn't wake up, I could oversleep the whole game. But I still managed to get to the bus, nothing happened.

You told about Dmitri Medvedev. What about Alexander Hloponin?
I met with him recently. We talked about the development of hockey in Krasnoyarsk, about the construction of the ice arena. it's going to be built soon, they promised.

Why bother?
No, I think this is important. I grew up here, I was born here. I began to play here. I think just having only one Falcon hockey club for Krasnoyarsk is not enough. For those children who can't get into playing hockey. More arenas, more ice rinks and there will be a lot more people to play hockey.

And then you can make hockey clinics here, show some drills.
I am all for it!

We regularly have the hockey games between "KrasAir" and the administration of the province in Krasnoyarsk.
I know. And we played together many times already.

Are they are clearly "better" than you?
We talk about amateurs.

But do they somehow understand it? Or do they try to fight you?
What do you mean?

I'm kidding a little bit. Their level, does it satisfy you?
I just get out to play for fun. I think it's a great fun for them too. For me it's just quite an interesting leisure.

Did you travel to some countries on vacation?
Of course, after every season we go somewhere to relax. I was in Egypt two years ago, it just happened. I didn't go anywhere else.

Did you go to some interesting concerts in America?
We went to see "Pussycat Dolls". What else? We went to many concerts. I simply don't remember the names already. "Maroon Five", Christina Aguilera. We met with them personally.

Was it with Washington?
We just went together with Ovechkin. We were introduced.

Does music has any influence in your life?
Now I listen European music more. Basically what other people listen. Anything, in general.

And who are your favorite actors?
Brad Pitt, perhaps.

Do you have any superstitions? A lot of players are very superstitious.
Everybody has their own routines before the game. But I won't tell you about mine's, because I can lose luck.

Is there a God?
I think so.

Just a hockey God or universal God?
God throughout the universe, of course. He directs all that there is on Earth.

The Americans as a nation are very religious. Their whole families go to the church, and there are many churches.
I don't know about it.

When you'll have a family, will you go too, maybe?
I go to church already. We have this option. We go to church all the time.

In the States most churches are Protestant.
I don't know, I go to the Russian Orthodox Church.

And in Canada, where you've been many times, is there a feeling that this is the Hockey Mecca?
Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, those cities are all crazy about it. Hockey for them is a number one thing. And in the States... Two years ago we had only about 10,000 people at the game. Now we have the full stadium, 18-19 thousand people. As of Toronto and Montreal, those are real hockey towns, always sold out.

Have you been in Toronto's Museum of hockey?
I was there this year. It's beautiful and enlightening.

Who was your idol?
Pavel Bure. I was 10 years old, I'd get up early on Saturday morning, watched NHL games. Back then they showed those games from over the ocean in the mornings. My Dad would wake me up. I enjoyed watching how he played.

What is the most memorable game or goal that you scored?
There were many games, many goals, scored, and not scored, and many beautiful goals. The best is yet to come.

But still..
I may note my participation in the 5th goal, a game winning World Cup goal.

In soccer there is known to everyone Beckham, a glamor lollipop, earning hundreds of times more than he is worth as a good footballer. Hockey doesn't have their own Beckham, does it? Although, of course, there are a lot of wealthy dudes.
Ovechkin is the most expensive NHL player now, 124 million dollars in 13 years. And Beckham has 250mil, for how long? For 5 years, I think . So make your own conclusions.

Did Ovechkin change after his contract was increased so dramatically?
After he signed it he became more motivated or something, I don't know…

In terms of the game did he became even more greedy?
Yes, he started playing much better to be honest. He became more mean, aggressive. But outside of the game he was the same person as before, friendly, sociable.

I don't want to jinx, but you also certainly will have a huge increase. When, by the way, your contract ends?
I have another two years.

And then your agent will start to push the management?
That's up to the club, whatever they decide. Maybe in a year, or next year something change.

What about in general, do money spoil a person? Or does the money give you such a freedom, such a pleasure, if you have a lot of money?
I think the most important is to be a human being. And everything else will come.

Or will not come. One of the two.
If it is given to you to take what you must take, then you'll take it one way or another.

Who among NHL players lives a glamor life?
Those who have already played five or six years or more.

Some may have built a house with 60 floors? No such thing? Or someone has a car that is 20 yards long?
And why would you need one?

Is it inconvenient?
I think so.

Do they talk about George W. Bush?
No, I did not hear.

Well, at least is there such person?
I know who he is. Like he will be replaced, as far as I know.

What is done wrong in the world?
This is not for me. I won't even try.

Shouldn't young man think about it?
And what will it change? Even if I say something. What's the point?

God can hear you. You go to church.
I still won't say anything condemning anyone.

Then what is your credo?
Get everything out of life.

Ovechkin got the cake in the face from Kovalev

By Irina Bystrova, KP.ru, July 18, 2008


Kovalev and Ovechkin came to Nyzhny Novgorod for a hockey clinic for kids. It ended up as a duel of two jokesters.


Later Ovechkin explained, "Yesterday we were riding in a car with Kovy, and I (what a fool) said, "I want something sweet". And here we go… But he did not offend me, we are a friends of hundred years and I got a lot of thing like that from him!

Interview to Sport-Express, July 18, 2008

By Yuri Golyshak, Alexander Kruzhkov, Sport-Express, July 18, 2008 "The Silver Dollar"

We thought Alexander Ovechkin was spending his vacation not just in Moscow, but in a very specific place of Moscow, at the outdoor cafe at Pushkin Square. He sits at one table, his agent, watching, at the next table. Nothing changes except the journalists who replace each other. Based of this summer's public relations campaign Alexander, the World Champion and the holder of almost all NHL trophies, may well run for the office. Whatever office he'd wish to.

So we followed the suit and asked for the interview as well. It was a mortal sin to miss this chance. The same evening we also interviewed Alex' legendary Mom, Tatiana Nikolaevna Ovechkina, double Olympic champion in basketball. The same woman who was the reason for the great Lenigrad Spartacus Head Coach Kondrashin to cancel the evening training session with the team. He'd say, "Tonight the training is cancelled. The Moscow Dynamo is in town. Let's go and watch Ovechkina with Voronina…"

Does your current vacation has a schedule for every single minute, one interview after another?
Oh yeah. Especially difficult were the last two days. I will have to relax from the hockey and journalists for another week. My brains are fried already though. Just want to turn off the phone, lock the doors at my dacha and forget about everything.

So your vacation hasn't actually started yet?
I went to Turkey for ten days. Only there I could catch a breath.

Are you becoming a robot in front of the interviewing recorder?
I don't know. Had to push myself. Hopefully it will be just for a few days.

What was the most unusual question you've heard during these interviews?
One comrade asked which hand I am more skilled with. He meant with what hand I play hockey. A person far from the sports, albeit a man. It was funny.

Is it a hard work to be a famous man?
I have to sacrifice my health to be famous…

That's why you have a gray hair at 23 years of age?
I've started to get gray hair since I was 17. I follow my father. He too got the gray hair early.

Is it been a while since you got tired of being recognized?
In Moscow nobody cares, they have new stars every day. Sometimes it happens, but it is not the same as in other cities. In some cities you walk and with every step you hear "Oh, hello, hello..."

How many times you've watched the tape with the finals of the World Championship?

I watched the ending several times and if I stumble on the video of our celebrations on internet, I watch it again.

Have you seen anything that you haven't seen on ice?
No, I oversaw all. I remember everything!

You've brought the souvenir from the Worlds, the Canadian silver dollar
Before the game started our team had a meeting in the center circle, and at these moments I always go down on my knees. And I looked down "Wow! A coin under the ice!" Canadians planted the silver dollar for good luck. And Ilya Nikulin and I decided that if we win the championship, we'll break through the ice and get this coin.


Did you have to break a sweat to penetrate the ice?
It turned out easier than I thought. I hit the ice with the heel of the skate and that was it. The coin could be seen through the ice, I was pecking not just blindly, but with a direction. I gave the dollar to Nikulin, he'll make two small pendants for me and himself.

Do you have even more interesting souvenirs in your house?
The puck of the first goal I scored in the NHL. I keep all the pucks, the fiftieth, one hundredth ... Some are in Moscow, some in Washington.

When it was announced in the plane that you were going straight to the Kremlin, what were your thoughts? Maybe "would be nice to get sober quickly"?
We were not drunk. By that time we've already celebrated for so long that we ended sleeping during the whole flight. Prior to that we spent the entire night on our feet. I think we didn't even have the 'exhaust' (odor of alcohol), we only drank champagne.

Sounds like you don't want to talk about it.
About how much we drank? Of course, I don't like it. This is none of your journalist's business, to know how we relax and how we celebrate…

Did anyone got upset by the fact that you came to meeting with the President of Russia in slippers?
For what? It was a coincidence, I had no chance to change. Do you think I'd intentionally go to the Kremlin barefoot in slippers?


Did you catch the puzzled looks on you?
They were a bit dumbfounded. But my Mom, for example, she only laughed afterward. As of Medvedev, I think he didn't even noticed my slippers.

Tatiana Ovechkina:
No one except us knows how everything turned out. We in fact helped Alex to pack in Washington when he was leaving to the World Championships. I've asked him why he didn't take a jacket or shoes? He took only one track suit. And those same slippers. Alex argued "First of all, Mom, there is nowhere to go. Second, I am going to the World Championships. We need to rest and prepare for the games. Then I'll come back to Washington, get the things and rush to Moscow." I tried to convince him, nothing worked.

And you know how it ended. Alex called after the victory and said, "We are taking charter flight to Moscow, the President invited us." I was horrified. "What would you wear? This is the Kremlin! You are not walking in the same slippers through the Spassky Gate, are you?" And my son said "That's ok, I'll hide somewhere in the back, behind other guys." We had no chance to drop him a suit. Good thing that the guys decided to go to Medvedev in game jerseys.

What is the last advice you've heard from your Mom?
"Be more attentive in life. There are many people who would want to use you." She always says this to me, last time I've heard it was about three weeks ago.

Was there an unpleasant experience?
Yes. I am too trusting. Often people use it. After the first season in Washington when I came back to Moscow I met a guy I knew. I've loaned him money and that was the end. The man disappeared. When he showed up again, he behaved as if nothing happened.

Did you stop to communicate with him?
Naturally. Since then I don't loan money to anyone. Though I am asked regularly.

Tatiana Ovechkina:
I try to protect Alex from dubious acquaintances, but it doesn't always work. He is a very good person by nature, but I don't want to see this kindness wasted to the right and to left. We talk about it often. Now my the son is popular. He hasn't yet earned ton of money, his new contract with Washington will come into the force only this season. But there are a lot of people trying to get in, to become friends, they tell him how remarkable he is, trying to jump on a bandwagon of his popularity or just to sit in a restaurant at his expense.

What is the best praise you've heard in your life?
The one I've recently heard from my parents, "We are proud of you" [It is nice though to hear it] when you don't expect good words from a man and he starts to praise you. One example would be Hanlon, our former head coach in Washington. At one moment he is shouting at you and tells you that you are doing everything wrong, the very next moment he calls you the best. One could never guess.

The Belorussians, whom he trained, remember Glen as master of the bright imagination. He would make them to think about the medals five minutes a day, for example.
Hanlon is a surprising person. It was a great pleasure to work with him. It is a pity it didn't work out for him in Washington.

Brett Hull once said that he experienced such a hatred towards his coach Keenan that he dreamed to prick out his eyes with the stick. Have you ever experienced anything like this towards your coaches?
No. And Hull didn't either, it's all words. If he really wanted to prick out Keenan's eye, he would do that. You can be offended by the coach, say a phrase with four letter word in your mind, but you'd still listen to him. I've never raised a voice on any coach.

Did ever a newspaper article in the media hurt you?
In general, not once. And I was criticized a lot, by the coaches and the journalists.

When was the last time you felt a real anger?
It is a very rare state for me. Last year there was a crazy moment in St. Petersburg arena. I was sitting there, pulled out a chocolate bar. The guard rushes in. "It's forbidden! Not allowed!"

Makes no sense.
For me too. Human's stupidity.

Did you throw that guard out?
What for? He is doing his job. As good as he can. It was easier to throw out a chocolate bar.

Who of your coaches had the toughest monstrous workout program?
Krikunov. Maybe another one was Bilyaletdinov. What I saw in America, their workout regimens are not even close. That's why I never had any problems in Washington's pre-season training camp.

Were there the drills after which you'd cry?
Cross-country race. 10 kilometers at the time.

Around the training camp in Novogorsk?
No, around the soccer field at the stadium. Everybody was running like crazy, the pulse was over two hundred. Some couldn't finish. Or a purely Krikunov's invention, which I haven't seen anywhere else, three people sit on a tube and you have to pull this "train" forth and back through the court.

What is a tube?
The tube from the truck. It is fastened to the straps. When I tried it for the first time I nearly died, to be honest. It was so hard! I forgot who was sitting on my tube, three years have passed, but these were not a light weighted people, it is a fact.

How did you respond when, after you left the Dynamo, Krikunov blasted you through the newspaper?
On the one hand those remarks hurt, on the other, they motivated me to work more. I have always supported Krikunov, he treated me well. But suddenly everything has changed.

Did Krikunov later repent that?
No. And what should he apologize for? Vladimir Vasilyevich, when emotionally involved, can say anything, that's why he had a nickname "Peasant".

You are going to train with Dynamo before going back to US. No hard feelings, everything is in the past?
I have excellent relations with the new [Dynamo] president, Mikhail Golovkov. And I have no problems with Dynamo fans. They sorted it out and understood me after all. I am glad that everything has ended like this. But three years ago I left to America with a heavy heart. I was upset that I wasn't able to part with the club in good terms.

Which coach is the best at motivating the team?
I always motivate myself. Just seeing the ice can start me up. At the World Championships in Canada we motivated ourselves before the third period. Bykov walked into the locker room and said, "One for all!" And we picked, "All for one!" But even without Bykov we knew, there was no way for retreat.

Did you forgive him that at the Moscow world championships tournament he put you to the fourth line?
I doubt they wanted to humiliate me. But what was behind it had remained a mystery. Was I the worst player on ice?

You are not the fourth line player, are you?
(Irritatedly) I can play on the fifth if needed!

Tatiana Ovechkina:
Alex is a gentleman, he does not keep resentment. I am often asked about Moscow's World Championships where he was put on a fourth line. Be sure to write this down, guys, what I am going to tell you now. It doesn't matter if it is the fourth or the first line. What matters is how much ice time you get. When they let you play 15 seconds and then you sit for 10 minutes, what can we expect? The problem is only in that! That situation still doesn't make sense. Alex was so committed to that championship! I tried my best to comfort him, "You have to suffer. You have to go through this too."

If you had a chance to replay one game, what would you have picked?
The semi-final Olympics with the Finns. It is still like a splinter, any time it comes back, you feel bad. We fought the hardest battle for the victory against Canada, but folded against the Finns like milksops.

And you were a milksop as well?
Yes. All of us without exceptions. Probably we decided that we had already won at this Olympics since the Canadians were put behind.

What was the most unpleasant hit that you ever received?
At the world's junior championship I received a blow from behind. Didn't see an opponent. I got a tear in my shoulder joint. Because of that I missed two months in the season when Dynamo became the champion. I still don't know which Canadian player did me a favor.

So you didn't have a chance to take vengeance?
What do you mean 'had no chance'? What about now?

Is there a Washington player whose inner strength surprises you?
We all have a character, all of us. But the most unusual is [Quintin] Laing. He blocks shots, any shots. Sometimes it is impossible even to imagine, is he going to block this one too?

A charismatic fellow. He'd never make into NHL, if not his heroism.

Have you ever met players like him before?
Never!

What about you, are you blocking shots without fear?
I wouldn't retreat, would I?

But it hurts.
There wouldn't be anything more painful than that story with my shoulder. The sufferings were inhumane, despite the fact that there was no surgery. It was necessary to keep the shoulder in stationary position. The hand was hung. Could not lie, could not sit.

But what about the case when you broke a tooth, and got another 15 stitches on your face?
It was really nothing.

15 stitches and nothing?!
It was not lethal. They stitched me right in a locker room.

The question which you certainly get all the time; why you don't insert the new tooth?
It is because I have a metal plate there already. If I put in the tooth now and get hit at the same place again, there will be nothing to recover from. I have a special implant tooth that I put on every two weeks to prevent the teeth to grow together.

The knocked out tooth has already became the part of your image. What the girls say, is it cute?
I'll ask tonight…

Kasparaitis nose was broken seven times. How many times was yours?
Five.

Do you remember all five cases?
Exactly remember the first one, it was in the game against [Khabarovsk] Amur. Of these five cases, four were in Russia. The Dynamo's physician Valery Konov was setting my nose back. The remarkable doctor. Once Grabovsky got hit with the puck in the face, he stitched him so well that no seam was visible. And he did well for me. Valery Evgenievich is a man with a capital letter, be sure to write it. And the last time my nose was broken was in the game against Montreal.

Tatiana Ovechkina:
My son never complains no matter what. It comes from his childhood, you'd never hear him whine. My husband and I were in Washington watching that game when he broke his nose. We were really upset. Alex had such a beautiful smile! Even now, without a tooth, it is still charming! Well, it will heal soon and then we'll take care of it. We were upset when he played for Dynamo and broke his nose, it was not set right. Have to blame the people who were next to Alex at that time. It should've been set right immediately after, using tampons or something else. And then when the son took off the protective mask, someone would hit him with the elbow or stick. I saw it with my own eyes at our arena, he was hit intentionally!

Goalkeeper Eremeev once said, "Ovechkin regularly riled me"
Oh, I know why! I was hitting him in the head with the puck all the time at training. He was very angry at me. "Now", he would say, "I am going to hit you in the head with a guitar. Or you'll have to stand in the net yourself." Let him know, I was not doing it intentionally.

Kasparaitis was pouring ketchup into his coach's shoes. Do you make jokes in your locker room?
At the Worlds my boots were greased with ketchup. As if I was a rookie. On another occasion they smeared my towel with the shaving foam, but I noticed. Then I started doing it myself. I poured ketchup into Khavanov's shoes.

When Bäckström scored the game winning goal in overtime, I foamed his a towel. And on April 1st I got Fedorov. He just had undressed and laid on the massage table when I told him that GM was asking for him. Fedorov got up, dressed and went to ask GM what happened. Semin and I had hysterics!

Was the veteran offended?
No, not at all... I remember Washington Caps public relations manager was leaving his job, so Semin and I took him in the showers in his clothes and turned on the water for a farewell. Then we threw him in a cold bath. In the end we gave him some overalls to get home.

The life brought you together with a person like Brashear. We heard he is also a character?
Awesome man! Very funny! The main thing is he behaves right all the time. Of all tough guys only Larague who left Pittsburgh could match him. Brashear is quiet, no fuss, and is not afraid of anything.

Have you seen Brashear in anger?
It's very hard to rattle him. But whoever succeeds, I won't envy that person.

Which tough guys fight shocked you the most?
When Brashear fought Laraque. The sparks were flying.
At first Laraque had advantage and began pummeling our guy, but suddenly Brashear turned it inside out, struck one blow and it was it. Touche! I can't imagine how people can stand such blows, how they don't become disabled. By the way, do you know that Brashear speaks Russian?

No way.
He spent many years in the NHL next to the Russians and learned the language. But it's better not to quote the words he knows in the newspaper, children could read it. When my girlfriend, who came to America, stood at the boards Brashear skated to her and said in broken Russian, "I luv you." This is the only thing that you can print from his speeches.

Kasparaitis used to be called the main freak in the NHL. Who is the chief freak now?
Sean Avery. He is a real clown. He loves to provoke his opponents. Once in the playoffs he stood in front of Brodeaur and did some crazy dancing.

Why?
He probably tried to divert the attention. He was waving hands, his stick, serpentined like a worm. Tried everything except maybe sticking out his tongue.

Some of our coaches, who interned with Juventus, couldn't conceal his amazement; the bigger was the star player, the more modest car he had. Who in Washington has the most modest car?
Perhaps Jeffrey Shultz. He drives a strange vehicle that looks like a minivan, but it is two seated and has an open trunk. I've learned that his rattletrap cost eight thousand dollars. And Semin's Mercedes is asking for a car cemetery for a log time. But he is not buying a new one, he is saving.

Who in your team is known as crazy driver? About whom are the legends made?
The legends are made about Semin and me! I normally try to drive carefully. Only once, because I was late to the team's training, I accelerated to 165 miles per hour. You can convert yourself how much it is in kilometers.

[165 MPH is 266 KM/H. This AMG Mercedes has max of 280 KM/H. I was told Ovechkin has S65 AMG]

And the flying ended, the police stopped me near White House.

Did you get a fine?
I've exceeded the speed limit in more than three times, for that in the United States a fine is not enough. They take your license and put you in jail. But I was lucky. The police recognized me and let me go. I gave them 10 tickets that I had with me to the Washington Capitals game.

Did they made you a driver's license already?
If the word "made" carries the same meaning that it is in Russia, then you are mistaken. You can't "make" anything in the States. To get the license I, like everybody else, went through the exam. The same thing, incidentally, was in Moscow. I got the license fair and square.

Did you pass from the first try?
Yes. However, when played for Dynamo, I was not driving. My father was driving me.

Tatiana Ovechkina:
My husband Misha and I are together for 37 years already. He worked as a driver at the same place as my father. They both were driving cement trucks. Then my husband started working as a taxi driver. When Alex grew up, all attention was given to the son. In Moscow my husband did not miss my son's single training. He went to the tournaments to other cities. And to Europe and America when Alex started playing for the national junior team. He watched, he monitored, he helped. He knows all the hockey advantages and disadvantages of our son like nobody else. He still corrects him, talks to him after the games.

Our grandfather, my father, is even more amazing! Modest and kind. When Alex was born, he was not even one month old, grandpa moved in with us. His work became a secondary thing, he was babysitting Alex. He fed him, walked him while I was at work. He was taking him to the training, traveled to many games. He carried his duffel bag. Now he is really proud of his grandson. Just couldn't reach Washington yet. He is old.

In our family my husband is the most emotional fan. He sits there, his face turns red, waving his hands. By the way we never sit next to each other during the game, not on the stands or in front of TV. That started when Alex played for Dynamo, and now for Washington. I got used to watch hockey alone. It is almost a superstition now. Our older son Misha usually makes the company for my husband. I watch all games to the end. I can't have the power to watch shootouts, when they start them, I leave immediately. When the Dynamo was winnig the Championship, preparing for shootouts in Togliatti, I didn't watch it. And Alex turned away, only listened to the audience. He did not come to the puck.

What is the most memorable poster about you that you remember?
At the Washington Capitals games I noticed two boys with the plastic eights on their heads. Once they made the poster in Russian, "Can I have your stick?" I gave them my stick, the kids were very happy.

The girls often write on the posters "Alex, will you marry me!"
All the time. Got used to it and don't feel shy anymore. Sometimes after the game, they pull up T-shirts and ask to sign on the chest. I am all for it. Never asked to sign on the passport. When someone asks to sign on the money I always refuse. Bad omen.

A couple of years ago you were asked why do you change your girlfriends so often? Do you remember what you've answered?
No.

I want to live and have fun.
I could not say that for sure! It was all made up. On the contrary I've always hoped that I would have the one and only girl. But for now my record in relationships is 2 years. However I don't want to talk about my personal life. The newspapers write so much nonsense! For example, as soon as I showed up with the designer Lena Lenskaya at the presentation for Bilan, the rumors about our relationship started flowing. Isn't it delirious?

What did you do at Bilan's party?
I congratulated him on winning Eurovision. We met shortly before, when we both were in the jury of the Music Competition.

Tatiana Ovechkina:
And why they ask Alex about these girls all the time? Irritating, that they talk so much about it! What is it? Is he old, bad looking? A young guy, it is understandable that he has a lot of friends and girlfriends. Let him meet people. Not a problem. Better than sit with us, the elderly, at home. Family dinner or going with the whole family to the theater, that's fine. We recently went to Satirikon to see the play "Mad Money". A great play. Too bad Raykin was not playing.

Last Saturday you were at a soccer game between Spartacus and CSKA. Do you have any friends between footballers?
I chat with Sychev over the phone. After Euro 2008 congratulated him with the bronze medals. The guys were awesome, made people happy. And when I was in Sochi a couple of weeks ago, I met Pavlyuchenko.

He was on vacation, and I was invited to Olympic games presentation.

When you were left in America with your older brother, how did you manage house keeping and home cooking?
We couldn't cook a meal. Once we tried to fry potatoes and we almost burned the kitchen along with the house. In a panic we rushed to call our parents. It was already after midnight in Moscow, we woke up everybody. My brother and I will never make a living as a culinary specialists.

Tatiana Ovechkina:
The calls after midnight about the culinary advice is a normal thing for us. Once I came to Washington and noticed the black spot on the floor. "What's that?!" I asked. "Oh, nothing serious..." Turned out they tried to fry potatoes and almost burned the house. They apparently tried to rub it off without success. They call often, very often. "Mom, do I cook the meat right?" "It's correct, Alex. Good boy". Then they understood that it's too hard to learn to cook. They can only do the most elementary cooking. Like the omelette. Alex has a big deck and they bought a barbecue grill. Now they can cook meat. It is much tastier. And they cook fish there as well.

When we come to visit Alex in America, my primary task is to prepare pelmeni, as much as possible.
Two-three thousand pieces. I make them by hand and I leave them in a freezer. After our departure Alex feeds the guests with pelmeni. But after a while he calls me in Moscow,
- "Mom, when are you coming back?"
- "What happened son, you've run out of pelmeni?"
- "Yep."
- "Don't worry, we'll be back soon...".

About the calls; we have an old tradition. Wherever he goes, he calls us exactly three hours prior to the game. As he gets into the bus he calls, "Mom, I am going." For his entire career there never was the case that he would not call us. We usually don't go to bed at the night and wait for his call.

Our older son, Mikhail, plans to continue his education in America. He tried three times to pass the exams, but it didn't work out. He wanted to enter not into the college, but into the university. There will be the fourth attempt. At present he works as manager for the women's basketball team in Washington.


To what you haven't become accustomed in America?
To the measured way of life. No one hurries anywhere. America is a very convenient country. For example, to purchase the airplane ticket you don't waste time trying to find an office that sells the tickets. You just visit the web site and buy it over the internet with a credit card. In US you generally can buy anything over the Internet.

Do you remember encounter with the victims of the hurricane Katrina?
Certainly. Nobody was forcing us to come to this meeting, but the entire team showed up. We wanted to somehow support these unlucky people who lost everything. In Washington they settled them in the basketball school. To look at all of this was extremely hard. I experienced similar feelings when I was visiting sick children. It is especially stressful when you see how they are treated in America and how they are treated in Russia. There are enormous hospitals built for the children, they cover all their needs. And in Russia? Two years ago I was visiting a small hospital near Dynamo subway station. To compare it with any American hospital is like to compare the sky and the earth.

What kind of fish bite you in Florida?
It was a fly-fish. It leaves burns like a jellyfish. It was very hot. Semin and I went into the ocean. Exactly where we went was a note "No swimming". As a result we both got the burns. My leg was stung bad but now everything is ok, I didn't even get a scar.

Was it hard to fire your own agent?
It actually really was a difficult moment for me last year. It's hard to say "You're fired." It was especially hard in front of Susanne. She did a lot for me. But I did not use the lawyers for that, didn't write the letters. I said everything looking right into the eyes.

What is that you don't like the most?
The lies and the boredom.

Do you meet boring people often?
More frequently than you think…

One well-known designer said, "I'd never buy an antique furniture and white socks". What would you never buy?
A helicopter. Many millionaires buy them in order to save time and not to stay in the traffic jams, but to me these means of transportation don't give any confidence. Way too often those helicopters go down. Anyway, I even I haven't earn that much money to buy it.

Could you stay in America forever?
No. It is awesome to play hockey there. But I want to live in Russia. I definitely feel more comfortable there, improved my language. But in the first season I was so homesick, I wanted to go back to Moscow so bad. I couldn't wait for the day when I'd go back. I remember I got into the plane and they served the soup with the piece of Borodinsky bread. As I smelled it I felt almost at home!

Tatiana Ovechkina:
We will not stay in America forever. Alex will give you the same answer. We are the Russians of Mordvin blood. And we want to live only here.

But I must say that the Americans treat my son wonderfully. In Washington in the stands everybody knows who I am, whose Mom I am. After Alex scores a goal everybody turns around and looks at me. They'll shake my hands. It moves you to tears. They always bring you some souvenirs, recently someone brought homemade cookies to the game, they ask to make pictures together. Everybody is very kind. After this summer in Toronto Alex got a bunch of trophies and Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty arranged a chic reception in honor of Ovechkin. He handed him a symbolic key to the city. I am very happy that Alex is so loved in America. But I would like to say about another Mayor, [about Mayor of Moscow] Yuri Mikhailovich Luzhkov.

Few people are aware that he was helping Alex. I had never told it to the journalists. Our acquaintance with Luzhkov started in 1990s, when he began to support women's basketball Dynamo team where I was the president of the club. There were different situations, but in all matters related to the hockey future of Alex, I was always asking for an advice from Luzhkov. And he'd always give us the correct advice. When in 2004 Alex was chosen as number one pick, the first person I called was Yury Mikhailovich. And after Alex signed the contract with Washington I've sent the fax to Luzhkov. Thanking him on behave of our entire family.

You won't believe it but Alex often hears harsh words from me. I am such kind of a woman, even if he will play great I won't overpraise him. I would say, "Not bad, Alex". I don't want him to relax. When he was little I only spoke about his errors. I am myself a coach, and I am a harsh coach. Though I really want to scream, "Alex, you are awesome!"

I am a strong, strong-willed person. I can restrain my emotions when it's tough. My kids will never see my tears. Only when I am alone, I can cry, like any mother...