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| ] ]]On June 26, 2004, Alexander Ovechkin was drafted 1'st Overall by the Washington Capitals. Ovechkin is only the second Russian in NHL history to be drafted 1'st Overall (The first was countryman ] in 2001). | ] ]]On June 26, 2004, Alexander Ovechkin was drafted 1'st Overall by the Washington Capitals. Ovechkin is only the second Russian in NHL history to be drafted 1'st Overall (The first was countryman ] in 2001). | ||
| Projected to be 1'st overall at the age of 14, Alexander Ovechkin never relinquished his reign of the 2004 Draft class. Performances in prestigious tournaments and leagues only reinforced his position as the best undrafted |
Projected to be 1'st overall at the age of 14, Alexander Ovechkin never relinquished his reign of the 2004 Draft class. Performances in prestigious tournaments and leagues only reinforced his position as the best undrafted prospect in the world. | ||
| == Ovechkin Media Links == | == Ovechkin Media Links == | ||
Revision as of 02:34, 14 December 2004
Alexander Mikailovich Ovechkin, the son of Tatiana and Michael Ovechkin was born on September 17, 1985 in Moscow, Russia.
The first signs of the future Ovechkin would have came when he was a child. At the age of two, in a Soviet toy store, Alexander grabbed a toy stick and helmet and refused to let go. His parents treasure the picture to this day. As a small child, whenever he saw a hockey game on tv, he "threw all his toys" and ran to the tv. He "protested strongly" if his parents tried to change the channel. His mother says she knew he would be an athlete when Alexander chose to run up the steps to their apartment rather than take the elevator.
He began playing hockey at the age of 7. Soon after he began, however he had to postpone his hockey career because his parents were unable to take him to the rink. One of Ovechkin's coaches saw Ovechkin's talent and communicated to his parents that he should continue to play hockey. Ovechkin's late brother, Sergei, who later died in a car accident, saw that Alexander loved hockey and insisted that Ovechkin be allowed to return. Ovechkin resumed playing a few months later and never looked back.
Now 19, Alexander Ovechkin visits his family's dacha in Turkey during the summer offseason. He has five German Shepherds and his favorite food is a Russian dish made of maceronie and meatballs.
Since he has studied at the Military Institute for Border Guards, apparently he does not have to serve in the military in Russia. Military duty is supposed to be "compulsory" in Russia, but it is so in name only and is enforced selectively rather than uniformly; for instance, young Russian star Ilya Kovalchuk has never served in the military, while Unkrainian-born Nikolai Zherdev was forced to go to arbitration court in Switzerland because Russian authorities claimed he had to serve in the military. Apparently Ovechkin will not have to face these questions.
Due to the NHL lockout, Alexander Ovechkin is currently playing his fourth season for Dynamo Moscow. He has on numerous occaisions expressed his desire to play in the NHL, but there is still some doubt about his contract status with Dynamo Moscow. Since the deal between the NHL (National Hockey League), the NHLPA (National Hockey League Players' Assiciation) and the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) is expired, NHL clubs must negotiate transfer fees--compensation paid to those teams from which the NHL teams get their players--individually with European teams. Because of the fact that there are no rules, European teams can theoretically demand any price for their players. Dynamo Moscow has so far made demads of up to $3 million dollars for Ovechkin, and it remains to be seen how soon the Washington Capitals will be able to bring him to North America even after the new CBA is signed.
Alexander Ovechkin for the National Team
At the age of 16, Alexander Ovechkin surpassed the scoring record set by countryman Ilya Kovalchuk in the World Under-18 Junior Championships.
At the age of 17, Ovechkin helped lead the Junior National Team to the Gold medal with two hattricks, one against Switzerland and one against USA.
At the age of 17, Alexander Ovechkin became the youngest skater ever to play for the Russian National Team. The only other player to play for the National Team at that age was legendary goaltender Vladislav Tretiak.
At the age of 18, Ovechkin was named Captain of the Junior Russian National Team although he was a year younger than many of the other players on the team.
At the age of 19, Ovechkin was named to the Russian National Team for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. He was the youngest player in the tournament.
Ovechkin is expected to lead the Junior National Team this December-January in the 2005 World Junior Championships. This will be his last World Juniors performance.
Alexander Ovechkin for Dynamo Moscow
Ovechkin began playing in the Dynamo Moscow system from the very start. In Russia, unlike in North America, hockey teams build players in their systems from childhood. Of course since the fall of the Soviet Union the players always have the option of which team they play for, but teams encourage players to stay in the system and hope that some of those players will eventually reach the Russian Superleague, the best hockey league in Russia and, according to some, the second best league in the world after the NHL.
Over the years Ovechkin has worked his way up the Dynamo system and at the age of 16 he made his debut for Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Superleague in the 2001-2002 season. He scored 2 goals and 2 assists in 21 games.
The next year, in the 2002-2003 Superleague season, he scored 8 goals 7 assists in 40 games.
Last year, at the age of 18 the 2003-2004 season, he scored 13 goals 10 assists in 53 games. He won the award for Best Left Wing in the Superleague and was the youngest player in the history of Dynamo Moscow to lead the team in scoring.
So far this year, as of December 12, 2004, the young forward has 10 goals 12 assists in 31 games.
Ovechkin at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
On June 26, 2004, Alexander Ovechkin was drafted 1'st Overall by the Washington Capitals. Ovechkin is only the second Russian in NHL history to be drafted 1'st Overall (The first was countryman Ilya Kovalchuk in 2001).
Projected to be 1'st overall at the age of 14, Alexander Ovechkin never relinquished his reign of the 2004 Draft class. Performances in prestigious tournaments and leagues only reinforced his position as the best undrafted prospect in the world.
Ovechkin Media Links
Alexander Ovechkin makes scouts salivating at U20 Four Nation's
Does Future of International Hockey Spell O-V-E-C-H-K-I-N?
World Ice Hockey Championship Kicks Off in Czech Republic
Ovechkin the Jewel of the 2004 Draft
Ovechkin: Lockout Threat Won't Spoil Experience
Russian Contact Could Help; Ovechkin Has Physical Makeup Teams Crave
NHL Banking on Ovechkin as Next Big Star
Caps nab Russian winger Ovechkin with first pick
Ovechkin's Assets All in the Family
Ovechkin Good Enough to Rescue Capitals