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The Washington Capitals arrived at their training facility Wednesday morning finding it difficult to focus on hockey. This building housed countless memories of Alex Ovechkin’s father, Mikhail, who was present here for years as his son developed into one of the world’s best players, often standing behind the glass screen or rolling through the dressing room with an infectious smile on his face.
Some of the Capitals veterans pondered these stories from their locker stands after being informed that Mikhail Ovechkin had died Wednesday at the age of 71.
Alex Ovechkin wrote his teammates the news of his father’s death and left for Russia to be with his family on Wednesday morning, Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said.
“Today I lost my father,” Ovechkin wrote in a post on Instagram, according to a translation of the social media post. “I thank everyone for their support, but I ask for your understanding and not to disturb my family at such a difficult time for us! Thank you very much.”
Alex Ovechkin left the team earlier this week to take care of his family and sat out Tuesday night’s loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Capitals captain is expected to be absent for at least the rest of this week – “He has our full support,” Laviolette said – and while the hockey implications of his absence present numerous challenges, players and coaches are simply focused on losing one game in the organization Wednesday.
Mikhail Ovechkin was a huge influence on his son’s career, helping Alex from his early days as a phenomenon at Dynamo Moscow through many milestones in his 18-year NHL career.
“He would never miss my exercises,” Ovechkin told The Washington Post last year. “Growing up…parents used to tell me, ‘You have to stay who you are. You can’t switch – no matter how much money you have.” ”
Mikhail Ovechkin was recovering from heart surgery in Russia in 2014 while Alex was attending the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Although Mikhail Ovechkin’s deteriorating health in recent years has prevented him and his wife Tatyana from traveling to the United States from Russia, they have been known to stream all Capitals games from their home in Moscow, which over the years has had a Shrine with memorabilia housed son’s achievements.
Mikhail Ovechkin couldn’t be there in person as the Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018, but his son brought the trophy back to Russia to share with his parents. Alex Ovechkin honored his father in other ways; Mikhail had played professional football for FC Dynamo Moscow – which resulted in his son signing a one-game deal with the club last year and wearing his father’s No 3 shirt.
“There was a connection and that’s something very unique,” said Capitals forward Tom Wilson, who described Alex Ovechkin as “a larger-than-life guy.”
“And his father, I think, is like that too,” he said.
From the Archives: Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin brings the Stanley Cup to his home country
No current Capitals player has had as much association with Mikhail Ovechkin as 35-year-old Nicklas Backstrom, who grew close to the Ovechkin family after joining the Capitals in 2007. Both Backstrom, a native Swede, and Mikhail Ovechkin did not speak English at the time, but they communicated with their hands. Backstrom would spend hours off the ice with the Ovechkin family and would often accompany Alex and Mikhail to basketball games, and when they were at the rink, Mikhail would provide a ride.
“The one thing I’ll always remember is that he was always happy,” Backstrom said. “He was always in the dressing room. He hung out with the boys. I think he loved that. He loved that so obviously it’s very hard to be hit by this sad news. I feel for the whole family. I can’t imagine what they are going through.”
Most of the Capitals participated in the team’s optional skating Wednesday morning. The locker room was quiet as the players left the ice. Ovechkin’s locker was empty.
“We wish we were all with him now… we’re really sad,” said forward Garnet Hathaway.
Laviolette had to deal with hockey issues, including what lineup changes he would need to make given Ovechkin’s absence. He had texted his captain on Wednesday to provide support.
“I’ve heard some stories of how he loved being at the training facility, loved being with the team and the players. It’s always a special relationship with your father. It’s often your father who gets you into sports,” Laviolette said. “It’s a sad day.”