Ovechkin: Did ya like it?

 Capitals Insider, Jan. 24, 2009 "Poll: Ovechkin's Creativity (Updated)":

Alex Ovechkin's reputation as the NHL's most colorful personality was affirmed in the Breakway Challenge tonight.

After missing his first three attempts, the Caps' winger returned to the bench, and with the help of his friend-turned-enemy-turned-friend again Evgeni Malkin, put on a pair of white sunglasses, a floppy, safari-style khaki hat (with a tiny Canadian flag sticking out of it), took a squit of Gatorade (from Malkin) and grabbed two sticks, carrying one in each hand.

Ovechkin then dribbled the puck between the sticks and scored on the rebound with his left hand, drawing a huge applause from the capacity crowd at Bell Centre.

He also attempted to recreate 'The Goal' from Phoenix a few years back.

[ovi8: Last hint before go to ice - I show one of my shots before, but not in last year's. - Jan 24, 2009]

Capitals Insider, Jan. 24, 2009 "Ovechkin's Breakaway Challenge Winner":

Alex, where did you get the idea to do the hat and glasses?
Well, it was last night. I actually talked to [team PR guru] Nate Ewell about it, and I said it's going to be fun, and you have to try it.

You seem to enjoy the spotlight. Does hockey need more of that?
I think fans have to see who we are. They see our skills, and the last trick was just for fun. Fans love it.

About trying to recreate 'The Goal', can it be done or should you just quit trying?
It's one time, and it goes in, and right now I feel like no more time [laughing] no more try.

On the shot with the two sticks, where did that come from?
The hat was just one piece of my trick. It's the same skill. I try to use different stick, and then I try to use it left shot. It went in, so I was pretty happy."

Why did you go to Evgeni for help?
It's during the bench. Kovalchuk [was supposed to help] me. But Kovy said let's do Malkin -- give me water, put my hat, clean my sunglasses and give me his stick. So I think it's pretty fun.

MONTREAL - JANUARY 24: Eastern Conference All-Star Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals competes in the "Scotiabank NHL Fan Fav Breakaway Challenge" during the Honda NHL Superskills competition as part of the 2009 NHL All-Star weekend on January 24, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)


Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images



Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images



Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images



Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images




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Breakaway Challenge Competition


Breakaway Challenge Winner


Post interview

Ovie: My buddy Konstantin [Selinevich, Ovechkin's manager] came up with idea, let's do this...


Here's AP story about breakaway challenge, Jan. 24, 2009:

In a nod to his supposed feud with Malkin, Ovechkin skated over to his East teammates before his final attempt.

Malkin helped him put on an outback hat — with a Canadian flag stuck to the brim — and white-framed wraparound sunglasses before pouring a sports drink down Ovechkin's throat.

"The picture that I can't get out of my head is that they're having fun," Edmonton defenseman Sheldon Souray said. "It just goes to show you can't believe everything you read or hear all the time, and it shows you how important winning with your club teams is that they can have this running feud and have everyone conjure up this big, nasty bad blood story between them, but to go out and pull that was pretty funny."
Ovechkin came up with the idea Friday night and bounced it off Nate Ewell, the Capitals' director of media relations.

"I talked with Nate about it and I said it's going to be fun, and you have to try it," Ovechkin said.

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