Alexander Ovechkin: Stanley Cup, beer and Britney Spears

PLAYING HOCKEY ON A COMPUTER IS VERY INTERESTING!

– Since morning you had battles on computer games. Apparently, this is not such an unfamiliar area for you?

– Computer games are good. This is all done to popularize our favorite sport. Someone will play at home – and will want to go out into the yard, it’s already normal to drive the puck.

– Do you play yourself?

– Of course, I play sometimes. But then again, I have a different taste, because as a child I played in the NHL, and then I made myself in the game. Now I’m more interested in other games.

Out in basketball, LeBron James says that you become a better basketball player if you play computer games. You choose to be a player or a coach…

– Did you prepare in any special way for today’s game?

– And what is there to prepare? Joystick and four buttons.

– Do you play in the NHL within the team?

– Hockey is less popular with us than football or shooters.

– Are you satisfied with your statistics and character in the NHL game?

– It is what it is. I always said, as they appreciated, so they delivered. Of course, you always want to be the best. But for now, there are even better ones. If, say, Vitaly Fridzon were here, he would say that for him the rating in a computer game is nothing, but he is the best on the court.

– Did you prepare somehow for the current fight?

– Well, what to prepare for? .. Joystick, four buttons – everything is fine.

– Now in Russia a federation of phygital sports is being created, the essence of which is to unite eSports and sports within the disciplines. For example, hockey + NHL game. What do you think about this combination?

– I think that the world is now moving towards the development of computer sports. Why not? You can always try. If there was no interest – this is one thing. And so, if there is interest, if there are people who do this both professionally and amateurly. I think it will be very interesting,” Alexander said.

THE SEASON IS COMING SOON – AND I WANT ANOTHER STANLEY CUP

– I see you all the time during the summer at Dynamo Moscow football matches …

Yes, I will definitely come to Dynamo-Spartak on the 20th.

– Now, from the press service of Dynamo, we already know that you will not only come, but also go out onto the field? (“Russian hockey player Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin will strike the ball before the match of the 6th round of the RPL with Spartak, Dynamo reported.”) But the question arises: what about the preparation for the new season? Coming soon – NHL regular season. When are you planning to fly?

– Either at the end of August or at the beginning of September. I don’t know for sure yet. And so … We are all already training, I am slowly getting in shape. There’s only a month left until Washington’s training camp. Now my form is somewhere around 70 percent of the optimal. The main thing for now is to bring yourself to the training camp.

– In my life I interviewed three of the greatest people of our time: Mikhail Gorbachev, Mick Jagger and the Dalai Lama. If you beat Wayne Gretzky’s record, I can boast that I already have four of the greatest.

– With a record, as well as with a “fifty kopeck” for the season – everything will go as it should. The most important thing is that there are no injuries. And for the team to perform at the level that will allow them to get into the playoffs. And there you will see. In the rest of my career, I would like to win another Stanley Cup, of course. Of course, this is more important than personal records. But we will try to win, to score.

– Sometimes they say that the entire “Washington” plays solely for you to break Gretzky’s record.

– It’s good that there is support from my partners. It feels like if I’m open, the guys will try to pass me. But there is no such thing as: “That’s it, we don’t care about the result. We will only play for Ovechkin.” There is no such close.

– And what do you think about the Moscow “Dynamo”, where there was a well-already abrupt reset?

– There was a rejuvenation of the composition. At the same time, experienced Canadians arrived. Decided to unload? Let’s see what happens. It is not every year to try to pick up the Gagarin Cup.

BEER CAN BE DRINKED, BUT WITHIN REASONABLE

– A crowd of fans follow you all day. On the street, in the stadium. I don’t know if you managed to watch the match, because there was always a queue for autographs. Do you have to control every step in your life?

– Well, within reason. Yes, every step is like under a microscope. But that doesn’t mean I can’t drink beer now, does it?

“Are you accustomed over the years to not being allowed to pass?” Everyone rushes at Ovechkin, at every corner.

“I was small too. And he also ran after famous hockey players. Therefore, I understand all this. Of course, you try to pay attention to everyone, give everyone an autograph.

– And who were you running after?

– I remember Igor Larionov came to our training. I ran after him. I ran after Vyacheslav Fetisov, after Alexei Zhamnov. This is normal if you are a hockey player. And when you are small, and there is a legend in front of you, then why not run after it?

ONE DREAM HAS COME TRUE, THE SECOND IS IN THE PLANS

– We talked not so long ago in Petrovsky Park, at football. And you admitted that the main event of this summer happened for you: you played football for Dynamo Moscow.

– This is true. My childhood dream came true. My father was a football player, so I entered the field under his third number. In addition, I even managed to score from Fedor Smolov’s pass.

– But you always had one main dream – the Olympics. In an interview with Pasha Lysenkov, you stated rather harshly: “We were thrown out with the Olympics.”

Well, you can see for yourself how it turned out this year. In general, it all depends on the IIHF and the NHL. The players tried to do everything to the end. But the International Ice Hockey Federation immediately told us: “No, we won’t let you play at the Olympics.”

– They didn’t let you into the tournament they organized?

– Everything depends not on us, but on finances.

Britney Spears and Camila Valieva

– They say that Ovechkin sings hits by Britney Spears in the club bus.

— If we won and are going in a good mood, then why not?

– Did you manage to communicate with Kamila Valieva on the day of “Ovi Kap”?

– Yes, we did. I can honestly say that she is a hero. Simple girl. There was so much pressure on her. We are rooting for her with all our hearts, like the whole of Russia.