On his third day in China, Alex Ovechkin played ball hockey with children and visited one of the ice rinks that will host hockey during the 2022 Winter Olympics.
But it was Ovechkin’s touching of lucky doorknobs in Beijing’s Forbidden City that was truly… well, uh… forbidden.
Video
Tradition says to rub the door knobs for good luck. Ovi got ALLLLL of the luck 😂#Gr8inChina pic.twitter.com/3pAC05WA8V
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 7, 2019
(Forgive me in advance for the #phrasing here.)
First, Ovechkin rubs one doorknob with his right hand. Then he gets greedy and rubs another with his left. Now he’s rubbing both doorknobs with both hands. Next, Ovi gets his torso involved, rhythmically rubbing his right and then left shoulder into the doorknobs. He flashes a wry smile, clearly aware of how ridiculous this all is.
According to Chinese tradition, visitors to the Forbidden City are supposed to rub the shiny golden doorknobs for good luck and fortune. The doorknobs that can be reached and touched by humans are visibly worn down.
After all of that rubbing, I’m definitely convinced Ovi is definitely winning his second Stanley Cup next season. Don’t @ me.
Here are some more photos and videos detailing Ovi’s third day in China.
📍 Forbidden City#Gr8inChina pic.twitter.com/18CHC9r1ps
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 7, 2019
#Oviselfie #Gr8inChina pic.twitter.com/0YRaqEx70D
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 7, 2019
Kids love them some 🗣 OVI OVI OVI#Gr8inChina pic.twitter.com/I9dpsulGce
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 7, 2019
