Alex Ovechkin opens up on “the toughest situation” of his NHL career

Last week, Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin announced the death of his father on Instagram. He confirmed what many feared when he had asked the Capitals for a personal leave of absence as he flew to Moscow, Russia to be with his family.

On Wednesday, Ovechkin was back in Washington and as soon as he got into the city, he went straight to the Caps’ practice. He met reporters after the skate and spoke about the last few days, calling the last week of his life “the toughest situation I’ve been through all NHL career.”

“We just landed a couple hours ago and I tried to come back on the ice as soon as I can. I skate only one time. It is what it is. It’s life. Obviously, it was a hard week mentally, physically.”

The captain also mentioned how his mother Tatyana and his brother Mikhail would come to America next month so that his family could support them.

He opened up on his father Mikhail and how important it is for him to keep playing in honour on his dad.

“He give me everything. All his health, all his time. He travel with me all over the world and been at every practice when he have a chance.”

Ovechkin feels lucky he can look back on different videos of his father and remember the good times like winning the Stanley Cup in 2018 with his dad celebrating with him.

“It’s good thing right now we have video [chat]. Lots of my friends who have lost their fathers didn’t have cellphones back then. Memory. But, right now we have it and that’s a good thing.

“He always have a great sense of humor. Even when he don’t understand people he always try to ask something. People who know him they’re going miss his smile, they’re going to miss his energy.”

The Capitals host the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday evening in Washington.

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