Alexander Filippov, the godfather and first hockey coach of legendary Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin, passed away at the age of 75 after suffering a stroke on Friday.
Dynamo Moscow, the KHL team that both Filippov and Ovechkin once played for, announced the sad news on their social media accounts.
“Alexander Filippov has passed away,” the team’s statement reads, as translated via Google Translate. “The celebrated defenseman for the blue-and-whites and legendary coach has passed away at the age of 75.
Alexander Nikolaevich became a two-time winner of the USSR Cup and a multiple-time winner of USSR Championships in the club. With the national team, a member of the club’s Hall of Fame won gold medals at the 1975 World Championship.
Dynamo Moscow Hockey Club expresses its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Alexander Nikolaevich.”
Ovechkin also released his own statement on his personal Telegram page.
“Alexander Nikolaevich Filippov has passed away,” Ovechkin posted. “My coach, a kind, honest, sincere man, a Dynamo legend, and a world champion. This is an irreparable loss. Eternal memory to Alexander Nikolaevich, and strength to all his family and friends.”
Filippov had a very successful career as both a player and a coach, a two-time Soviet Cup winner with Dynamo, and a 1975 World Champion. After his playing days, he moved into coaching at the junior level and later served as an assistant coach on Dynamo Moscow’s under-16 team.
The former Dynamo defenseman was close friends with Ovechkin’s parents, Mikhail and Tatyana, and was the first to suggest putting Ovechkin in skates when the Great 8 was a child.
“Sasha is my godson,” Filippov said in 2022 on a sports.ru blog post, as translated via Google Translate. “I have a photo with the inscription: ‘To the godfather, from Alex.’ I often went to Tatyana’s basketball games and practices. I was sitting in the stands one time with her husband and asked, ‘Where’s the little guy?’ He said, ‘There he is with the ball with the girls behind the backboard. Listen, we need to do something with him, assign him somewhere.’ I offered to take him in and put him on skates.
“He trained with me for a year with the ’88 team, even though he was an ’85 player and was improving quite a bit. Sasha is very stubborn. You’d suggest he take a break, but he wouldn’t budge. And Tatyana raised him in such a way that after practice, everyone would go for a walk, but he would rest at home. Without question. His upbringing, character, and talent allowed him to become an outstanding hockey player.”
Ovechkin has since gone on to win his three World Championships with Russia, a Stanley Cup as the captain of the Capitals, and become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer. A storied career that began under Filippov’s guidance.
RMNB sends our condolences to the Filippov and Ovechkin families and their friends. May Alexander rest in peace.
