Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin announced the death of his father Mikhail on Wednesday.
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The 37-year-old Russian had left the team the day before to go to the bed of a loved one.
“Today I lost my father… Thank you everyone for the support but please understand and don’t disturb my family at this difficult time for us! Thank you,” he wrote on his Instagram account.
Mikhail Ovechkin was a notable professional footballer, wearing the colors of Dynamo Moscow in the first division. Alexander paid tribute by wearing his father’s number 3 in a friendly in the Russian capital last June.
Head coach Peter Laviolette said on Tuesday he does not expect to see his captain back in uniform by the end of the week.