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Blog:
10 April 2008-The Playoffs are just around the corner More…
30 May 2008, №17538
N. Bragilevskaya
The Best Forward and Sniper in the NHL, Alexander Ovechkin: And Now the Stanley Cup
Yesterday, one of the heroes from Quebec, world champion Alexander Ovechkin, received two individual NHL awards-- the Art Ross trophy for the most points (the first time this award has ever been won by a Russian player), and the Maurice Richard trophy for the most goals.
Ovechkin gave his first interview after the award ceremony exclusively to Soviet Sport.
OVECHKIN HAS MATCHED IGINLA
The celebratory event was led by Bill Clement, a former NHL player and current commentator on NBC and Versus. He noted that Alexander Ovechkin was the second NHL player in history to receive both awards simultaneously. A murmur passed through the hall, and a majority of the journalists were of the opinion that the first to achieve this feat was Wayne Gretzky.
How soon we forget! Everyone has already forgotten that Jerome Iginla won both awards back in 2002. Gretzy, for all his greatness, never accomplished this, probably because the Maurice Richard trophy wasn't established until 1999- Gretzky's last year playing.
After the ceremony, I asked Clement his thoughts on whether or not it was good for a player such as Ovechkin to have such amazing successes at the beginning of his career. "Yes, for some people this can make their heads start to swell" said the commentator. "But this isn't a problem for Alex. For him the team is always first and foremost. I would even say that this is his personal motto."
And now, on the large screen in the Omni hotel ballroom in Pittsburgh, a montage of Ovechkin's goals is starting to play. Your breath is taken away by how vivaciously Alexander the Great whacks in each of his 65 goals. With an oversized Ovechkin as a backdrop behind him, the real Sasha, in a black pinstriped suit, pink shirt and tie, looks quite modest. Alexander briefly thanked his teammates as well as the fans and the league itself for their support and the honor shown to Washington.
--"And he flew 12 hours from Russia to give this one minute speech?" I heard the journalists around me say with amazement.
"I'M A LITTLE JEALOUS OF CROSBY"
After the official part of the ceremony, Ovechkin and the other honorees were handed over to the reporters. Besides Sasha, veteran Mats Sundin was presented with the Mark Messier award for leadership, Detroit goaltenders Chris Osgood and Dominik Hasek won the Jennings trophy for fewest goals allowed in the regular season, and Vincent Lecavalier and Trevor Linden won the NHL Foundation award for "commitment, perseverance and teamwork".
An official press conference was set up specially for Sasha. The questions were very diverse.
"What is your relationship with Evgenie Malkin? How do you rate his season?
-"We aren't friends, but acquaintances. Malkin is an outstanding player, and he has made it to the Stanley Cup finals. I can only be happy for him."
-"On June 12 in Toronto you should win the Hart trophy, the highest individual award in the NHL, for most valuable player of the year..."
-"If I actually win the trophy it will be a great honor. But it is not up to me to say I am worthy of this prize. Others have to judge me."
-"What do you think of Crosby's game so far in the playoffs?"
-"I'm a little jealous of him!" jokes Ovechkin. "Sidney is an outstanding player on a great team. Last year the Penguins were knocked out of the first round of the playoffs, and now they have made it to the finals. I hope that my Washington make such progress."
-"But this season was the best in your career. World champion, a heap of individual awards..."
-"I disagree. The most successful season for me will be when I win the Stanley Cup. I think this is coming soon."
"I'LL GO SEE PUTIN IN BAST SHOES"
After the press conference, Ovechkin hung around on the stage to take pictures of his new "toys" with his telephone. This simple little undertaking turned into a real flea market. First someone offered to take a picture of Sasha and his trophies with his phone, then other reporters and operators started running across...
Finally a Washington press attaché uprooted Sasha from the stage and drug him to the other end of the hall, where they were set up for a professional photo shoot. Apparently the NHL thought to do a new poster or advertisement starring Ovechkin. He really is the face of the league whether he likes it or not.
Despite the crazy whirlwind around him, Sasha found the time to give an interview with Soviet Sport.
-"You're dressed up in finery! Can you explain why you recently went to a reception with the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev wearing flip-flops?"
-"This time I simply had time to change my clothes, and the other I didn't." says Ovechkin, smiling. "On the other hand, that was a unique situation. For sure nobody else has ever gone to a presidential reception wearing slippers."
-"I know that on June 3 you are invited to visit with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. What will you wear when you go see him?"
-"Probably something original once again. I have a lot of choices: felt boots, bast shoes..." Sasha keeps joking.
-"Will you be staying in America very long?"
-"I flew in on Tuesday, and on Wednesday will be flying back. I have a lot of things to do in Moscow. But right now I'm going to watch game three of the finals in Gary Bettman's private box."
-"You predicted that Pittsburgh will win the Stanley Cup. Now with just a few hours before game three, do you want to take back those words?"
-"The series isn't over yet! I think that Pittsburgh will stretch out the series. I'm ready to make that prediction right now."
-"Why do you feel so confident?"
-"This team... has got game. If Pittsburgh can hold on for just one more match, then I think they can win the finals."
-"I was surprised when you said during a press conference that the Stanley Cup was more important to you than the World Championship."
-"Not quite. But I already have the title of World Champion, and I don't have the Stanley Cup yet. If I can become the NHL champion, then I will have achieved my dream."
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