How do you know the Capitals’ season is really over? Alex Ovechkin is no longer on the same continent as you and me.
Monday and Tuesday, Ovi, his wife Nastya, and son Sergei packed up their things, drove to Dulles Airport, and flew to Russia ahead of the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
Nastya documented parts of the family’s journey along the way. First, she took video of all their belongings in the back of a taxi, which included Blake’s dog kennel and several bags of Ovi’s hockey gear.
At the airport, the Ovechkin took a photo with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Kuzy’s brother in law, Danil Zinovyev – a member of the U18 Russian national team and a player in Traktor Chelyabinsk’s system.
Baby Sergei seemed to enjoy the flight as he played with some of the airplane’s Russian magazines.
Once Ovi and his fellow Capitals teammates arrived, they spoke to the Russian national team management. They did not suit up for practice and will not play in Russia’s first game of the final stage of the Euro Hockey Tour against Sweden. Instead, they’ll first take the ice against the Czech Republic on Thursday to get adjusted to the new time zone.
Following a conversation with the national team’s management, the decision has been taken for Dmitry Orlov, Nikita Zaitsev, Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov to join the side in the Czech Republic on May 2 because of the acclimatization process #TeamRussia
— Russia Hockey (@russiahockey_en) April 30, 2019
Ilya Kovalchuk was named captain of the team while Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, and Sergei Plotinikov were named the alternates.
Ilya Kovalchuk has been named the captain of the senior Russian national team, with Evgeny Malkin, Alexander Ovechkin and Sergei Plotnikov being the assistant captains #TeamRussia
— Russia Hockey (@russiahockey_en) April 30, 2019
“It’s a great responsibility to be the captain of the team,” Kovalchuk said in an interview. “It is always so, but with a team like we have it is even greater honor and responsibility.”
Ovechkin spent the rest of his first day back in Russia with Nastya’s extended family.
Headline photo: @k_pashninaa
