Stanley Cup champion Alex Ovechkin was honored by the Washington Redskins ahead of the NFL team’s first home game of the regular season.
Joined by Caps’ Russians Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov at FedEx Field, Ovechkin accompanied Redskins players, including quarterback Alex Smith, for the coin toss as the team’s honorary captain.
He got a very loud reaction from fans when he was announced to the crowd. In fact, it was the loudest the crowd would be all day.
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Today our Captain was the honorary Captain! Thanks for the warm welcome, @Redskins Family! #HTTR #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/EM4one5Vuh
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 16, 2018
Ovechkin thanked the team for the honor in an Instagram post. “lets go @redskins …good luck this season!!!! we believe in you boys!!💪💪💪,” Ovechkin wrote.
He even said “Let’s Go Redskins,” for the team’s social media.
We've got a special guest in the building….
"LET'S GO REDSKINS!" – @ovi8 pic.twitter.com/PcaWzJ6RQp
— #HTTR (@Redskins) September 16, 2018
Ovechkin, wearing a customized #8 jersey with his name, was joined on the field by a 16-year-old cancer survivor who was the Redskins’ co-captain.
We teamed up with @PCRF_Kids to give 16 yr old Osteosarcoma survivor Sebastian the gameday experience of a lifetime as today’s #Redskins honorary co-captain 🙌🏼
Thanks @ovi8 for making it even better!#ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth 💛 #HTTR pic.twitter.com/lePwZX1IMT
— Redskins Community (@RedskinsCR) September 16, 2018
During his time on the field, Ovechkin met with the media, high-fived Redskins fans, and even said hello to Redskins owner Dan Snyder.
@ianoland @ovi8 spotted on sidelines of Redskins/Colts game! pic.twitter.com/ASs7bP5RU0
— Marianna (@mdenny_99) September 16, 2018
It’s officially lit pic.twitter.com/WNp22MjTAb
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 16, 2018
Look who wandered onto the sidelines here at FedEx Field: @ovi8. #Redskins pic.twitter.com/NiafP3pB7g
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) September 16, 2018
We out here! @ovi8 @Redskins #HTTR #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/nPZvddxexE
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 16, 2018
when not the suck meets the suck pic.twitter.com/DAUkCvP9PZ
— Danny (@recordsANDradio) September 16, 2018
After the game started, Ovechkin joined his wife and the rest of his crew in club seats.
Later, a fan showed Ovechkin his new Stanley Cup tattoo in a very sensitive part of his body.
Ultimately Ovechkin did not bring good luck to the Redskins as they fell 21-9 to the Colts in their home opener in front of tens of thousands of open seats.
