Alex Ovechkin returned to Washington Capitals practice on Tuesday afternoon and spoke to reporters for the first time on Wednesday after a week-plus break away from the rink.
Ovechkin, along with his wife, Nastya, and his two children, Sergei and Ilya, vacationed in Dubai along with some of his extended family and friends.
“Break was great,” the 40-year-old Ovechkin said after Tuesday’s skate. “Kind of a long flight, but worth it. Some times with family, friends. Don’t think about hockey, don’t think about the world.”
There was one other thing Ovechkin didn’t think about. When asked if he had been watching the Olympics at all, Ovechkin replied “no” and ended the press conference.
Russia was not allowed to participate in the 12-nation best-on-best hockey tournament — or the Olympics as a whole — due to its invasion of Ukraine. Russia hasn’t played on hockey’s national stage since February 2022, and the ban will continue through the 2026-27 season.
“Obviously, I understand,” Artemi Panarin told the New York Post. “But also it’s pretty sad for athletes who play that sport all [their] life and then have dreams about that. For our side, it’s pretty sad, but we can’t control that. I hope people figure it out. Especially when speaking with other guys who are going to play in the Olympics, they wish Russia is going to be there.”
Ovechkin, whose dream was to win both a Stanley Cup and an Olympic gold medal before his career ended, has not participated in the Olympics in over a decade, when the Winter Games were held in Sochi, Russia. The Capitals captain competed in only three Olympic Games during his career — in 2006, 2010, and 2014 — and has never medaled.
Not only is Ovechkin not tuning in for this year’s tournament, but he didn’t as well for the 4 Nations Face Off. The NHL banned Russia from competing for the same reasons: due to its war in Ukraine.
“I won’t be watching the Four Nations Tournament,” Ovechkin said. “What’s the point of watching something where the Russian team isn’t participating?”
Three Capitals players remain in the Olympic tournament, including Tom Wilson and Logan Thompson on Canada and Martin Fehervary on Slovakia.
