Ian Oland

About Ian Oland (@ianoland)

Oland, a 2006 graduate of UMBC's art school, is a co-founder of RMNB and serves as an editor, publisher, and author. During his time with RMNB, he has done features for the Caps' TV show CRL, written a story for the print edition of the Washington Post, and helped first-report the Chelyabinsk meteor in the English language. Oland's favorite blog memories include raising enough money to get reader Ryan Ellis into a NASCAR race with a RMNB sponsored car and holding the Stanley Cup for the first time. Follow Ian: Twitter | Instagram

Sergei Ovechkin’s obsession with hockey is continuing to grow

Babies born to legendary athletes usually have unrealistic expectations heaped upon them to continue the family business when they grow up. But ever since Sergei Ovechkin was born, Alex Ovechkin has maintained he wouldn’t force hockey on his son.

“[W]hen he starts walking, I will bring him to the rink,” Ovechkin said in August. “If he likes it, we’ll work on it. But we will not make him.”

Since then, Sergei and his hockey stick have become inseparable. Ovi has taken his son on a tour around MedStar Capitals Iceplex. He’s skated his son around the ice. In February, Sergei took the ice with dad’s Capitals teammates during practice. All the while, Ovi has worked with Ovi Jr. on his stickhandling and taught him how to do a proper slap shot (with Blake in goal). After Alex scored his 700th goal on February 22, he got Sergei his own baby hockey gear from CCM.

Despite the NHL’s 2019-20 season being suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, Sergei’s obsession with hockey has continued to grow.

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By Ian Oland 1 week ago

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Which Disney characters are the Ovechkins?

Nastya Ovechkina recently took to Instagram to try the Which Disney Character Are You? Instagram filter. She also had Sergei complete the challenge.

With Alex Ovechkin doing the filter in January (he was not happy with the results), we now know which Disney character every member of the family matches up with.

You’re welcome for this #content. It’s perfect for the quarantine, I know.

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By Ian Oland 1 week ago

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City of Toronto cancels all events through June 30

If the NHL is going to come back before July, it appears it will have to do so without playing games in Toronto.

Tuesday, Toronto mayor John Tory announced that all city events and event permits are canceled through June 30 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

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By Ian Oland 1 week ago

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NHL extends self-quarantine period through April 15

Per several reports, the NHL has extended its self-quarantining period through April 15.

This is the second time the NHL has extended its self-isolation date since originally giving guidance to stay at home through March 27. Last week they extended it to April 4 and now they have pushed it 11 days later.

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By Ian Oland 1 week ago

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NHL players vote John Carlson as the second best defenseman in the league

The NHLPA published its annual players poll on Tuesday. 588 different players voted on important topics such as who is the most complete NHL player and who is the worst trash talker.

Two Capitals players got some love on this year’s list: one for his exemplary play and the other for just how dang entertaining he is.

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By Ian Oland 1 week ago

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Bruce Boudreau on first meeting Alex Ovechkin, the Sergei Fedorov trade, and being fired by George McPhee

Former Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau was fired on Valentine’s Day by Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin. It marked the second time Bourdeau, who owns the third-highest winning percentage in NHL history (.576, min. 500 games), has been let go mid-season.

With all that free time on his hands, Gabby shared some more tales about his time in Washington through the media. Boudreau coached Alex Ovechkin during the prime of his career in the NHL and turned the Capitals into a perennial playoff team.

Boudreau opened up during Sportnet’s trade deadline show as well as with Mike Russo of The Athletic.

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By Ian Oland 1 week ago

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Digi Alex Ovechkin finally scores, Digi Braden Holtby tallies assist in Capitals’ big win over virtual Sabres

The Washington Capitals humbled and molly-whopped the virtual Buffalo Sabres on Monday. The fake Caps are undefeated (4-0) since going digital.

The Capitals had seven different goal-scorers, including the snake-bit Digi Ovechkin. The game was so lobsided Nick Jensen scored and Braden Holtby tallied an assist.

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By Ian Oland 1 week ago

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Tom Wilson’s puppy Halle made dad a happy birthday video and it’s the cutest thing

Tom Wilson and Taylor Pischke adopted rescue puppy, Halle, earlier this month.

Sunday, Halle spent her first birthday with her dad Tom and she made him a present: one of the cutest dog/athlete videos of all time.

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By Ian Oland 1 week ago

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Paige Dowd’s ‘quarantine adventures’ include giving Nic Dowd a haircut

The entire DMV is now under a “stay at home” order as the amount of positive COVID-19 cases continue to ramp up in the area. That means all types of non-essential local businesses are closed including local barbershops.

With Nic Dowd needed a haircut, Paige Dowd took the scissors literally into her own hands. Monday, in what she termed a “quarantine adventure”, she cut her husband’s hair.

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By Ian Oland 1 week ago

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