Home / News / Alex Ovechkin plays in Danis Zaripov’s Ak Bars retirement game, skates on top line with Alex Semin

Alex Ovechkin plays in Danis Zaripov’s Ak Bars retirement game, skates on top line with Alex Semin

By Chris Cerullo

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August 9, 2023 6:03 pm

Alex Ovechkin jumped back out onto the ice with Alex Semin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Ilya Kovalchuk on Wednesday. And, no, it was not for a Washington Capitals’ alumni game.

The Great Eight took part in Danis Zaripov’s Ak Bars retirement game at Kazan’s Tatneft Arena where Zaripov’s number 25 jersey was raised to the rafters.

Ovechkin skated on Team White and was placed on a line with Semin and the mayor of Kazan, Ilsur Metshin. Outside of scoring an absurd, between-the-legs shootout goal, Ovechkin added another strike in regulation as the Hockey Stars defeated the Ak Bars Stars, 12-9.

Throughout the game, Ovechkin tried to set up the mayor multiple times for a goal.

“I’m trying to give, I’m looking for him – but he doesn’t score,” Ovechkin said. “I told him to hold the stick harder.”

The Capitals contingent, which also included current Capitals team scout Andrei Nikolishin, arrived in droves to celebrate Zaripov. Ovi and Nikolishin stopped to take photos with fans and others in attendance pregame. Ovechkin has been in his native Russia since flying back in late April after missing the playoffs with the Caps.

Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Semin, and Kovalchuk had their stalls lined up together in the Team White locker room. A lineup of forwards that would have made quite the formidable power play and have combined for 1,669 career NHL goals.

Kuznetsov skated on the team’s third line with former NHL player Alexander Radulov, who last played on the Dallas Stars. Kovalchuk’s main running rate was former Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick and KHL legend, Sergei Mozyakin.

Other notable players to participate included Alexey Morozov and Pavel Datsyuk. The coaches of the teams were Zinetula Bilyaletdinov and Ilya Vorobyov.

Kuznetsov, who the Caps have reportedly been trying to find a new NHL team this offseason via trade, joked after the game that he might just stay in Russia after the win.

Ovechkin’s wife Nastya, Semin’s wife Alena, and current Ak Bars forward and former Cap Dmitrij Jaskin were in attendance in the crowd.

Zaripov wrapped up his storied professional career this past season with Ak Bars. A career that began during the 1999-00 season and featured five wins of the KHL’s Gagarin Cup. Zaripov is the first player to ever have his number retired by the franchise.

“I will tell you a secret that it was not so hard to call Sasha,” Zaripov said of getting Ovechkin to participate in the game. “As soon as we decided on the date, he immediately said without hesitation that he would. I am very grateful that he treated me and all of us in such a way.”

The player-worn jerseys from the game have been autographed by the players and auctioned off for charity. Ovechkin’s jersey has already sold for 2.1 million rubles which is about $22,000 USD.

By comparison, a Zaripov jersey signed by Ovechkin and multiple members of the opposing Green Team sold for “just” 260,000 rubles which is around $2,700.

Ovechkin plans to get on the ice for some more casual game action on August 12 when he suits up for the “Hockey Legends” team on the final day of the Ovechkin Cup tournament. Ovi started ramping up his preseason NHL training in July.

In the past, Ovi has made his way back to DC in late August-early September before training camp begins.

Screenshot via @hcakbars/Instagram

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