Alex Ovechkin got back on the ice this week for the first time since the Washington Capitals were eliminated from the 2024 playoffs. The Great Eight laced up his skates and played in a Dynamo Moscow alumni game with other graduates from the club’s academy in his age group.
Ovechkin flew back to his native Russia shortly after the New York Rangers sent the Caps packing in just four games. His ties to Washington were still obvious even in a blue and white Dynamo sweater as he rocked his usual red, white, and blue Capitals gloves, Capitals dark blue pants with embroidered red stars, as well as his Capital One branded helmet.
The Capitals captain stopped for a photo with former KHLer Sergei Olkhovtsev who came up through the Dynamo system just as Ovechkin left for the NHL.
Ovechkin has participated in alumni events with Dynamo in the past, taking part in a tournament last summer that also featured former Capitals forward Andrei Nikolishin as well as former NHLers Maxim Afinogenov, Alexander Kharitonov, and Sergei Vyshedkevich. A host of other former pros took part in the game this year.
Alexei Sopin, the current Dynamo general manager, also took part in the game. Sopin is a part of the 1986 Dynamo class so he donned a solid blue jersey and played against Ovechkin and the rest of the 1985 academy class.
After the game and in the locker room, Ovechkin took some time to pose for a photograph with the current pupils currently working their way through the Dynamo academy system. He also posed for a photo with fellow ’85 alumni.
If Dynamo has its way, this won’t be the last time Ovechkin is back sporting blue and white this summer. FC Dynamo Moscow wants Ovechkin back on the soccer field during the “Brotherhood Cup” taking place in July.
