Recent Updates
News:
11/11 Rest of Semin Interview...More…
11/9 Boudreau on OV's Slump...More…
11/9 OV Interview after Rangers Game...More…
11/5 Entire Semin Interview!...More…
11/3 The Dzagoev Dialectic...More…
10/31 Fedorov Interview...More…
10/30 Semin and Kozlov...More…
10/20 Yet Another OV Q&A...More…
10/20 Yet Another Semin Q&A...More…
10/17 Short OV Interview...More…
10/17 Feds Interview...More…
10/14 Another Semin Interview...More…
9/18 Semin Interview...More…
9/16 Simeon Varlamov in America...More…
9/5 Morozov and the KHL...More…
9/3 OV behind bars?...More…
8/17 OV on Russian Game show...More…
8/12 OV in Beijing...More…
8/4 OV is in even better shape than last year...More…
7/28 Jagr and OV talk...More…
7/27 Kapitanov--OV doesn't even take vitamins...More…
7/25 OV can't get to his seat...More…
7/22 OV parties in Moscow...More…
7/23 OV Going to Beijing...More…
6-3 OV the Superman...More…
5-27 Don Cherry loves OV...More…
5-30 OV interview in Pittsburgh..More…
5-13 Feds Interview...More…
5-12 OV Interview...More…
Odious Don Koharski killed us More…
Blog:
10 April 2008-The Playoffs are just around the corner More…
Ovechkin's Blog
5 September 2007
Hi Everybody! :)))
Hi everybody!:))
I am so glad to see you all here! Thanks so much for all the emotions,
the wishes and the questions! Thanks also for promising to keep me
updated on news from Russia!:)) I never imagined that I would also have
fans from America writing to me here on my blog. Sweet! I'll see you
soon, guys.
To tell you the truth, I just never have enough time. The pace is
insane...I rush, I run all around Moscow at an unreal speed in order to
do everything.You know what it is usually like when it's your last few
days and you've still got a ton of things to do. I have to say goodbye
to all my friends. I have practice every day too. And then the
journalists are always calling, asking questions, inviting me over.
Today I was with the editor of "Soviet Sport", and before that I was at
NTV TV station. I sit down, talk a little, joke a little, and then I
have to keep running.
I took a look at my blog, and I've gotten so many questions already.
I'll try to answer a few of them here. Please don't hold it against me
that the answers are so short...I just don't have any time. I don't know
how I'm going to make it to my plane on Friday:)) So I probably won't
show up on my blog again until after I get into Washington.
I love everyone! 'Till we meet again soon.:))
(*NB Ovechkin's answers to the questions below are in bold)
miss_nt writes
Hello Attacker! A warm hello from frigid Siberia and the cool Urals to
the forward of the Russian National Hockey team! Oof! It is so awesome
that you have started this blog. It is one thing to support sportsmen,
and it is a totally different thing to be able to talk to them. And we
aren't just "simply" fans of yours. We are OOH-RAH fans! We can't turn
the TV up loud enough! What we really want to tell you-- first, we want
to wish you victory, successes, health, happiness, love, warmth,
triumphs, revenge, positives, summer weather, and making it to the
Russian Super League. Finally, from me, I really want to see more of you
so badly it hurts :))))))Secondly, I have a small request-- SMILE! The
little limerick below is along the lines of "A small boy found a hand
grenade..." jokes
Once upon a time a Russian Forward
Dropped his stick on the head of a Finn
Our boys liked the idea so much
That's why hockey in Finland is "Fin"
Okay, it's just a silly joke !:))))))))))) You have to know, Sasha, that
in Russia everyone roots for you, believes in you, and always is waiting
for you! VTY (*NB Very truly yours*).. but why VTY? If I'm going to
speak, I'm going to speak truthfully:with warm and dedicated fanatical
love of the Russian sport, to hockey in particular and to you in
principle--
Anya, Novosibirsk
Nadya, Yekatarinburg
P.S. If you see any other "national" NHL players, tell them we said
hi:)))
P.P.S.--One more purely girly question: which do you prefer-- brunettes
or blonds? :)
And helloooo to you, girls! :)) Well, you made me laugh:)Right out
loud, too... )))If I see any of the guys, I'll tell them you said hello!
And as for your question?... Well, in general I like all the girls! :))
dpanov writes:
A question from California
Sasha, I wish you a successful season and hope you make the playoffs!
I'm writing to you as a fan of the San Jose Sharks. My question is: I
don't think it will be any secret that the Eastern conference NHL teams
will garner a lot more attention than the Western Conference teams.
However, the Western teams aren't weaker. Take, for example, Anaheim.
Doesn't it bother you that you don't play your worthy opponents along
the Pacific coast more often? Thanks, Mitya
Of course I wish we could play those teams more often. But we don't
get to make the schedule, the league does. And they believe that it is
more interesting when each team plays in it's own division, that it will
bring more benefit and pleasure to the fans. And if they think that way
is the the way it should be, then I also think that way.
moskvich88 writes
Question: Do you think it is more important for you to become the best
player on your team in this season, or is it more important for your
team to end the season successfully and get into the play-offs?
Alexander, I wish you successes in the new season!
I wish for my team to make it to the play-offs since it has been a
long time since we have made it there, or even gotten close ((( But all
of this is awaiting Washington! I am sure of it.
0_price writes:
I wish you success in the new season! Sasha, if you get a chance, could
you say a little about Hanlon? Last season he gave the impression that
he was a good coach for the AHL level, but the NHL for him is a stretch.
Success this season!
Every fan and every player has his opinions. For me, he is a normal
coach and a normal person. He works as he can, and he gives his all with
everything. Therefore, I don't think you should say that he is a bad NHL
coach.
mmg8 writes:
Hello Sasha! I can't believe I have the chance to write directly to you!
:)) (Thank you championat.ru!) I have rooted for our National team as
long as I can remember, but the 2007 team simply tore me up (I apologize
for reminding you of the world championship). As much as you may try to
forget about this championship, as a fellow sportsman (rhythmic
gymnastics) I understand very well that it is not that easy, and what it
is like to deal with this. I know that more than anyone you wanted a win
for us. Of course it was very painful. I have wiped a lot of the Moscow
championship from my memory, but not the memory of our national team,
which played with great dedication and desire. Emotionally and vividly,
they were the gold winners of this world championship.To my great
regret, I was unable to attend this World Championship, but I really
wanted to meet you. What is your most memorable moment in your hockey
career? What were your impressions after the visit by Putin? What is the
best rink to play on, Canadian or European? And now a non-hockey
question--I read in the paper that you really like the film "Diary of a
Memory (*NB Dnevnik Pamyati). Is this true? I was very touched by this
film. I hope that you will make the national team in 2008 and help
Russia win the gold in Canada! I wish you successes in your preparation
for the new season!
Maria, Kaliningrad
Hi Maria!
Yes, I really did like "Diary of a Memory". It is a very dramatic and
lifelike film.
My most striking memory is the Olympics.
After my visit with Putin I was left with the utmost favorable
impressions. He is a classy dude.
I prefer to skate on the Canadian rinks, because they are more compact
and everything is faster.
ovca123 writes:
1. Tell a little about your influence on the management of the team. Is
it true that the Washington bosses signed contracts with Barlamov and
Kozlov after talking with you?
2. Name the top ten NHL players from last season and the best rookies of
this year.
3. Why didn't Kulemin go to Toronto?
I wish you luck in the new season!!
1. As far as Barlamov, that is nonsense, and as far as Kozlov--yes, I
got them interested, but it was the scouts, not the bosses.
2. Best players: Crosby, Kovalchuk, Nabokov, Malkin, Datsyuk, Yagr,
Thorton, Hossa, Heatley... there are a lot of great players. And
rookie--Backstrom.
3. :))) You need to ask Kulemin about this.
maxtar1981 writes:
Hello Alexander. It is great to have the opportunity to talk to you and
ask questions directly to you. The girls are especially happy about
this. Therefore it may be that not all the questions will be about
hockey:)) Its a pity that we can only follow your (thine?) games through
the newspapers or reports on channel 7 in Russia
(it's really interesting which form of greeting is proper for you when
talking with fans (*translator's note-Russian has two forms of
addressing people, the formal and informal*) I hope that you play even
better this season than last. The Caps got really good new players. In
general we want to see you both as close as possible to the Stanley Cup
and in the world championship (in Canada specifically), therefore we are
torn between our priorities. I have a couple of questions to start off
with.
1. Exactly what did you see as the main problems for the Russian
National team in the recent world tournament (the lack of gold)?
2. In your opinion, what is the highest honor (trophy) for a hockey
player?
3. Where can I get hockey accessories in Moscow (even a baseball cap)
with the Washington Capitals on it?
I hope that you avoid injuries, that you have a supergoal season and you
attain all your desires (your birthday will be here soon!)
P.S. It was great to see the emblem of Russia in your hands after the
goal against Canada in the Olympics.
1. There weren't any problems. They just didn't have enough wins
2. The olympics.
3. Unfortunately, I don't know:(( However, it seems to me that in Moscow
this isn't a problem now. There are a lot of sporting good and hockey
supply stores.
rais13 writes:
Hello to the best hockey player in the world! I hope you make all the
goals you want! Please give your prognosis for the NHL finals and the
superleague finals? As soon as possible please. Later.
Superleague finals-- Dynamo-Ak Bars, and NHL finals: Washington -
Pittsburgh :))) Okay?
polina_sproge writes:
Hello. Wow, it is so cool that our remarkable Sasha Ovechkin has started
his own blog! :) Sasha, I want to wish you a successful season in the
NHL. The most important thing is that you remain unhurt, that you become
the best scorer in the NHL, and not just to please your fans, but so you
can get a lot of joy from the upcoming games. We are going to be rooting
for you big time and will be very happy to tell you all the news from
Russia-- I promise!:) I have a small request: How do you feel about the
defeat of our boys in the Superseries? Is Canada really at a higher
level than us? This is really sad if true. Thanks and success!
You know, I and a lot of others get these type of questions now. I am
not going to answer. Not because I have nothing to say. I'm just
ashamed. That is all :((
paullak writes:
Hey Sash, first I'd like to congratulate you on the start of the school
year. It seems like even hockey players can't get away from studying ;)
Of course, right along with this is the start of our championship! I'd
really like to know your feelings about who will become champion. And
what do you think about the level of our hockey and the NHL? I'd just
like to hear from a professional what's the lowdown on one or the other,
like which is more exciting to watch or the play:), and of course
(excuse me for this), as far as the world championship, I watched it and
was really happy at the beginning, and then I really understood what
kind of TEAM we have, when the boys, and you particularly, in an
interview during the breaks said that what was necessary was to play as
a team, no matter how often you were on the ice, just go out there and
play, and most importantly TRY and you would get a corresponding result,
and for that I was really happy!! And don't get upset, but the gigantic
experience you gained was really not bad.:) And if it was bad, well bad
experience is experience just the same, and, in my opinion, the team in
general and you in particular were very lucky to play with one another
and show what it is to play a real game! So atta boy! Keep it up! I wish
you successes in America in the new season. And in school :) We are
already rooting for you!! Believe it!
It is difficult for me to name a champion.
The level of hockey in Russia is rising every year. The NHL is simply a
league which has made a name for itself, which has developed it's own
self-propelling mechanism. And this mechanism works very well, everyone
is happy. New coaches are being brought to Russia and they are trying to
change some things. I think this is the right thing to do.
neo loss writes:
Do you think Salavat Yulaev will go to the NHL?
))) Well I really don't know..Maybe.It's just that there hasn't been
an offer made yet. :)))
