Miles Wood’s favorite player growing up was Alex Ovechkin. He even got an autograph from Ovechkin after a game in December 2016 as a rookie. Thursday, Wood nearly altered his idol’s face forever.
5:59 into the first period, Wood skated by Ovechkin for a shift change. As the Devils forward skated by Ovechkin, he high-sticked him directly in the face.
Nick Jensen got in his first career fight as a Washington Capital on Friday against the New Jersey Devils. Jensen dropped his gloves with annoying, sandpaper-y forward Miles Wood.
On a night where the Capitals dominated everywhere on the scoreboard and scoresheet, Jensen’s fight was the lone low light – though he does get major props for fighting in the first place.
Fourteen years into his NHL career, 33-year-old Alex Ovechkin is an idol for many young hockey players who are breaking into the league.
“When Miles was about eight or nine-years-old, he sent a hockey card to Alex Ovechkin,” Miles Wood’s father said in a December 2016 interview. “He said if you don’t sign this and send it back to me when I make it to the NHL, I’m going to give you a big bodycheck. Miles never got the signed card back.”
That precious 2016 interview led to Wood, a forward for the New Jersey Devils, meeting Ovechkin after his first pro game against the Capitals. Ovechkin even gave Wood a signed photo as an apology and the two smiley players posed together in the bowels of Capital One Arena.
Thursday night at Prudential Center, those smiles turned into snarls as Wood tried to fight Ovechkin during a scrum in the first period.
Y’all, we got some man-on-idol violence.
In 2013, the NHL introduced a rule that made helmet visors mandatory for all new players coming into the league. NHL officials would also begin accessing minor penalties to players who take off their helmets during fights. But, in a dangerous sport like hockey, those rules don’t universally prevent head injuries. And on Saturday night, a visor caused an even worse injury during a fight.
During the Tampa Bay Lightning’s game against the New Jersey Devils, Andrej Sustr’s visor broke in half after being punched in the face by Miles Wood.
Sustr was lucky to not receive any serious damage to his eye, but left the arena with over 15 stitches.
By Cara Bahniuk 4 years ago
Before the game, news broke about a Facebook Live session Miles Wood’s dad participated in.
“When Miles was about eight or nine-years-old, he sent a hockey card to Alex Ovechkin,” Randy Wood said. “He said if you don’t sign this and send it back to me when I make it to the NHL I’m going to give you a big bodycheck. Miles never got the signed card back so I’m waiting for that big check on Alex.”
Before the game, Ovechkin signed a photo which read, “To Miles, Take it easy tonight!!!”
Afterwards, Ovechkin said sorry in person.
This week, the New Jersey Devils are hosting their annual Dads Trip, where the players’ fathers travel with the team. Wednesday during a Facebook Live, Randy Wood, the father of Devils forward Miles Wood, told host Julie Robenhymer a special story about his son involving one of his favorite hockey players growing up, Alex Ovechkin.
