Q & A with readers of Sovetsky Sport

SovSport.ru, July 31, 2010 Alexander Ovechkin: "I do not know how to fight! Someone else does it for me":

At the end of Kharlamov Trophy ceremony Sovietsky Sport held a competition for fans. Of the 157 questions that readers asked Ovechkin on Sovsport.ru site, we selected the five most interesting in our opinion. And Alexander himself has determined the winner. [The winner received a prize - tj]

"The day before I got into the Internet and read all the questions," warned Ovechkin at once.

Maybe you'll find the ones that you liked. Here we go...




Hokkeistka: "Alexander, how do you retreat from the heat?"
I'm on vacation so I am lying by the pool in a chaise lounge. And I can advise it to everyone.

ReCiDiV: - Materazzi after the well-known episode published a book "What I really said to Zidane", which had 249 options of exchange between the players in the final of the 2006 World Cup. Does Pittsburgh's Max Talbot write a similar book about you? Is he gonna get what's coming to him? [or is he gonna get punched in the face... loose translation - tj] Why did he attack you? How will you respond?

And Sasha, are you aware of this story? (Otar Kunanashvili)
Yes... (nodded Ovechkin). No need to respond. A person can say whatever he wants. The ice will show it all.

So are you ignoring Talbot?
Exactly right.

"But I wrote a column about it," argues Otar. "It's not royal to respond to such attacks. Ovechkin is the king, and that one from Pittsburgh is a schmuck.

As73: - What product you would not advertise in any way?
Cigarettes. Because smoking is harmful to your health.

LGileva (Larisa from Ekaterinburg): - In one of your interviews, you said that the meaning of life in the States is very simple: obey the laws and you'll fine." And what is the meaning of life in Russia?
Exactly the opposite (Laughs).


From canada.kp.ru (h/t to Emily)

Ivica9: - When did you last time had a street fight?
In fact I should avoid fighting.

Is it according to the contract?
No, in general. I don't know how to fight [not good at it - tj]. Usually they fight for me.



Which questions did you find the most interesting?
The last, about the fight. Greetings, Ivica! (Ovechkin said it to live a television camera on our website and boldly signed a red baseball cap "Sovietsky Sport".)

Source: http://www.dynamo.ru/press.php?full=13792



Ok, the last street fight? (with Malkin's agent who got punched in the face :-)

The last hockey fight? Mike Richards and Ovi in exhibition game:



I can tell you, Ovi could be very good because he is a natural talent. For a guy who "doesn't know how to fight" he was very good at avoiding Mike Richards' punches. Not a single one reached Ovi and Mike, unlike Alex, is an experienced fighter. So whatever Great Eight does, he can get good at it.

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Ovechkin laughs at his Eastern Motors commercial

Ovechkin laughs at his Eastern Motors commercial during Kharlamov trophy ceremony



H/t to BobbyG and ovechkin.tumblr.com.

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The Kharlamov Trophy ceremony (YouTube video)

Ovechkin: "It is very nice to receive this award again, I am especially flattered that I received these votes from my fellow countrymen who play in the NHL."

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Ovechkin talks about vacation and the team

Ekaterina Baleva, Sportbox.ru, July 30, 2010 "Alexander Ovechkin: Pathos? This is not about me! ":

The team Russia and Washington Capitals forward, who received an award of the best Russian player in the NHL, a Kharlamov Trophy, for the the fifth time, talked about his vacation and explained the advantages of long-term contracts.

This year's the summer in the capital is unusually hot. How do you retreat from the unbearable heat?
Now it's a vacation time, so I try to stay closer to the water, be it a river or a pool.

Your friend Ilya Kovalchuk found himself not in the most simple situation with the signing of a new contract. What would you advise him?
I think that Ilya does not need my advice, he is a grown man, besides it has the agents who are more knowledgeable than I am in these matters. Ilya has signed a good contract, but the league has found something of suspect, though I do not know what it is... I hope that in the end everything will be settled, and I wish to Ilya that his contract will came into a force as soon as possible.

What would you have chosen in place of Ilya SKA or New Jersey?
Kovalchuk has a completely different situation, he has his family, children, and I'm still single. What can I say? It's his choice.

In recent years it is the NHL trend for the hockey players to sign multiyear contracts. But to be bound by 15-17 years, is it almost slavery?
Why? You ensure a future, get rid of the headache. Each player who has a short contract for 2-3 years, sooner or later have to think "this is my last year and I've got to work hard, so they would give me a good contract!" But I don't have to jump out of my boxers, all is well and I can safely prepare for the season.

In this off-season Washington Capitals roster has changed dramatically. In your opinion, how will this affect the team performance?
The changes, in fact, are not so big. Most of all it's a pity that the team lost Jose Theodore, plus two Morrisons, Shaone and Brendan. But we have the promising youth who made an excellent showing in the past playoffs. In addition there certainly will be some other trades. The team management obviously made these changes deliberately, first, to unload the payroll, and second, to bet on young goalkeepers, Semyon Varlamov and Michael Neuwirth. Well, we'll what will happen.

Many Russian players in the NHL admit that they plan to finish their career in Russia. How do you see the end of your hockey career?
Oh, my career has just begun, so to speak of its completion is too early!

You have brought from Germany, in addition to the silver medal at the World Cup, another, live trophy, a dog. How did you come up with this idea?
In fact, the idea was spontaneous, I called my father and said, "Dad, do you think we can get the dog?" He said, "Let's do it!" Ilya Nikulin and another friend of mine, who came to support me, went to the dogs nursery, where they breed German shepherds, waited two hours until they bring the dog to us. We looked at once on the paws, teeth, they showed us her grandparents, parents. That's how we got Ghera, and now she is 5 months old and is raised by my father. Of course, it was possible to buy a dog in Moscow, but I think that the "Germans" must be from Germany.

The vacation for the NHL players is now in full swing, what event this summer has left the most vivid impressions?
In fact the vacation is going very rapidly, I've never had such a busy vacation before! After the World Cup Sanya Semin and I went to Turkey where I spend every summer. Why Turkey? We didn't have a Schengen visa and it was not too far away to fly. I think this is the perfect vacation, usually you come out on the pier, quietly look around, assess the atmosphere with a sober mind and go on! Besides, all my friends can afford Turkey, it's an ideal place to relax and have fun together. We had an awesome company!

You, apparently, a man without pathos?
Why pathos? Why do you need it?

Update: Seems like it was Q & A with a media and Ekaterina Baleva missed something. Here's what Ovi said (SovSport.ru) after he replied about his vacation in Turkey:

On Monday I'll start my training together with Kovalchuk, Filatov and Zherdev. And on August 15th I'll continue my training with Dynamo.

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Alexander Ovechkin: My career has just begun

The Washington Capitals captain and the most paid player in the NHL history, Alexander Ovechkin has won the annual 2010 Kharlamov Trophy. He talked about what it means to him to the "Russia 24" TV channel.

Reporting live from cyberspace, this is Emily.

I will add the translation tonight, watch for updates.

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I've done it 5 times

Ovechkin received a sweater with a sign "I've done it 5 times"


Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin has won the Kharlamov Trophy, the award presented to the best NHL Russian hockey player, for the fifth time. On this occasion he was handed a T-shirt with a sign "I've done it 5 times!" (Я сделал это 5 раз!).



"It is very nice to receive this award again, I am especially flattered that I received these votes from my fellow countrymen who play in the NHL," quotes Ovechkin Sportbox.ru correspondent Ekaterina Baleva. "I'll try to receive it for the sixth time. Alas, this season was not very good, the national team lost at the Olympics and at the world championship, and Washington Capitals have failed in the Stanley Cup playtoffs. I think we ran out of luck, it was possible to beat Canadians at the Games. But the season before was a Russian one, and every year is different.

Tatiana Ovechkina, who was also present at the ceremony, said that she hoped that her son would resemble the great Soviet player Valery Kharlamov a bit, in whose honor this award was named.



Ovechkin was asked about Maxime Talbot incident in this video and this is what he said:

There's no need to answer to it. Every person has the right to say something. The ice will show it all.

«Отвечать ничего не надо. Каждый человек может говорить все, что хочет. Лед все покажет»

See you on the ice, Maxipad...





Photo gallery: http://www.sovsport.ru/photo-item/1890

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Ovechkin cake

Cruising the internets I found this morning a cute lil' Ovi:



Update:
Sovetsky Sport (www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/400152) posted Ovechkin's cake picture. I can bet my house they took it from our blog.

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Some details about 2010 Kharlamov ceremony

Plus you can call in and ask Ovi questions! Reporting live from cyberspace, this is Emily.

Alexander Ovechkin is the winner of the annual Kharlamov Trophy award (Александр Овечкин становится лауреатом ежегодной премии «Харламов Трофи»)

See the live broadcast of the award ceremony presented by newspaper "Sovietsky Sport" at our site KP.RU on Friday, July 30, 2010.

The award was established by "Sovietsky sport" for the best Russian hockey player in the NHL. The winner is chosen by Russian NHL players, each player selects the three best Russians of the last regular season. The athlete who gets the highest number of votes is declared a winner.

The world hockey champion, captain of the Washington Capitals and the most expensive player in NHL history Alexander Ovechkin is the winner of the 2010 annual Kharlamov Trophy award as declared by newspaper "Sovietsky Sport". He has won this trophy for the fifth time in a row.

The live radio bradcast by "Komsomolskaya Pravda" is from 14.35 to 15.00 (Moscow time).

You can call Alexander Ovechkin and ask your question on 97.2 FM.

Call us and ask questions!

Live phone line: (495) 97-00-972.

Source: www.kp.ru/daily/press/detail/5026/

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Alexander Ovechkin The Ultimate Highlight video

I like it, Ovi likes this kind of music, talbots get hammered all over the place, awesome...

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How Max Talbot was totally hammered first time he met Ovechkin

Yeah, Talbot, seems like you are not just a douche bag, you are a liar as well...

TSN.CA:

"The first time I met him, actually, when I met him off the ice," Talbot told The X.

Liar, liar, pants on fire... Here's how Max Talbot met Ovechkin for the first time and I guess it had a lasting impression on him:


"I just hate the guy," Talbot told The X on Tuesday.

Next time when Talbot will get plastered in 2D by Ovechkin, he'll remember his comment he made today.

bwahaha...

Update:
sportsuntapped.com

In his five-year NHL career (all stuck in Pittsburgh), Talbot has scored 44 goals total. Ovechkin has scored 45 or more goals in every single one of his five NHL seasons. Talbot was born in Quebec. Ovechkin was recently named Russia’s top male star. Ovechkin has been named the NHL players’ MVP the past three years — a feat matched only by Wayne Gretzky and Guy LaFleur.

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Ovechkin Reebok ad in Georgetown

DC Sports Bog:

...image of a huge Ovechkin ad in Georgetown.

Ovi: "A real energy drink for your legs. When you are wearing ZigTech, you're training more and getting tired less."

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Alex Ovechkin, the best hockey player on planet Earth!

Missing hockey and Alexander the Great?

Here are Jul 24, 2010 NHL.com quick picks that show why Great Eight is the best hockey player on planet Earth!



Ovechkin 500th career point was reminiscent of many of the previous 499 - a dazzling goal. 2/04/2010 0:55 Mins

Alex Ovechkin's one-time laser beam
Backstrom-to-Ovechkin, and the Russian sniper fires a laser to the top corner.

Ovechkin comes out hammering
Frustrated with his play in Game 1, Alex Ovechkin comes out flying in Game 2.

Ovechkin goes in-out-goal
On March 8, Alex Ovechkin again proved he is the most dangerous scorer in the game today.
4/07/2010 0:58 Mins

Ovechkin Shootout Winner
Ovechkin game winning goal in a Shootout from 10/17/09
3/01/2010 0:47 Mins

Ovechkin scores, or does he?
Alex Ovechkin drills Hal Gill and knocks the puck into the net for an apparent goal, but after review...

Ovechkin plays physical
After being on the receiving end of a big hit, Alex Ovechkin makes the Bruins pay the price.
2/03/2010 0:40 Mins

Ovechkin goal - 1/21/10
Alex Ovechkin's second period goal against the Penguins on Jan 21, 2010.
1/21/2010 0:42 Mins

Ovi bests the King
Alex Ovechkin started things off by targeting the top corner of Henrik Lundqvist's net.
2/04/2010 0:48 Mins

Ovi answers back
Ovechkin, not content to let Crosby steal the spotlight, unleashes a camera-crushing shot for a goal.

Ovi makes it a trick
With his third goal of the game, Alex Ovechkin knotted the Caps and Pens at four apiece.
2/07/2010 1:34 Mins

Alex Ovechkin sets up Mike Knuble
Alex Ovechkin dangles past Scott Niedermayer to set up Mike Knuble for a nifty goal.

Drop-Drop-Knuble!
Ovechkin leaves it for Backstrom, leaves it for Knuble, who puts it home.
2/04/2010 0:53 Mins

Knuble gets help from his friends
The Caps' passing play on Feb. 4 looked a lot like this one on Jan. 15.

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Ovechkin, Kovalchuk in hockey friendly in Moscow

While Moscow Dynamo United went for training camp in Belarus, Ovechkin stayed in Moscow. As he said in an interview, he planned to train with Kovalchuk under the guidance of Kovalchuk's personal trainer and join Dynamo when they would be back from Belarus.

Ovi and Kovi might also participate in hockey show and friendly game described below by our field reporter Emily:

AIF.: The sports forum will start in Moscow on July 29, 2010. This event will be attended by chief executives of the country. What will happen there, what are the goals and who is expected as guests?

Baidakov (Vice-Mayor of Moscow): The forum "Russia as a Sports Power" will be held in Moscow for the first time. We are expecting 2700 delegates: there will be professionals, leaders of the Federations, directors of sports schools, athletes, representatives of the business. The foreign delegation will be very representative, by the International Olympic Committee. The heads of 17 international sports federations have already agreed.


AIF: As far as I know, there will be the show, where the legends of hockey with meet with the state government officials?

Baidakov: This idea was born from a group of fans of the game in the Moscow and Russian government. Zhukov, Nurgaliyev, Shoigu, Fetisov will play.. The veterans of the Soviet hockey will play against them. This game will be open and friendly. For more entertainment we plan to invite Kovalchuk and Ovechkin. The game will be held before the opening of the Forum.

Source: www.aif.ru/society/article/36305

I am pretty sure Tyurkin will be there too.

Update:
This game has already happened today. Ovi and Kovi didn't play, but I guess they were maybe honored guests. The video report doesn't say anything about them: http://news.sportbox.ru/Vidy_sporta/Hokkej/spbvideo_Sostoyalsya-match-Legendi-hokkeya-protiv-sbornoy-pravitelistva-RF





Ovi is not available to entertain us here, but we can watch his rookie season on YouTube.



This is not truly HD because back then the hockey games were not in HD, but it's still a pretty good quality, enjoy...

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Ovechkin's Novogorsk YouTube video

This is the video of the interview from the Dynamo.ru we have posted before (Title: "Ovechkin will prepare for the season with Kovalchuk")...


July 21st, 2010


Ovechkin's Q&A one more time:

Alexander, when you visit Dynamo training facilty, do you have nostalgic feelings?
Of course. It's my alumni, my native walls. So it's always nice to come back.

Do you know all of the employees here?
Of course. However some people have retired now. I'm talking about the grandma's and grandpa's who rooted for us and did everything possible so that players would feel comfortable.

Are you going to prepare for the season in Novogorsk?
Yes, I am. I think I'll start practicing in Novogorsk sometime on August 15th. In the meantime I will prepare individually with Kovalchuk and his personal fitness coach.

Do you plan to skate today?
Yes, I do. I need to "shake my fat" a bit. Get out on the ice and play for a half hour.

Everybody now knows that you have become an advisor to President of Dynamo club. How do you feel yourself in this position and what you think what is most important in the new job?
I think it's a positive thing for me and for the club. I will be asked about the NHL. I will be asked about the players, I think, too. I am all for it, always ready for the dialogue. If anything, they know my phone number.

Was it easy for you to agree to this offer?
Of course. You can't refuse such proposals.

Some of the fans are rather skeptical about the changes that have occurred with the Dynamo. Can you say something encouraging to them?
At first I was also upset because of the merge with HC MVD. But now I see that these people came to the club to make it better. Perhaps even better than now. So I look at this situation with the optimism.

At the end Tyurkin says: "If someone would say 5 years ago that I would be on the ice with Alexander Ovechkin, I'd say it would be the great honor... and it is..."

I had the post a while ago about Stevie Yzerman being honored at Dynamo training facility in Novogorsk, but too lazy to find it... Anyhow, Stevie Y is in Dynamo's alumni gallery with Afinogenov and Ovechkin (watch the video)...

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Ovechkin's Novogorsk video interview

Ovi's in Novogorsk. Nice place for training, isn't it? Birches, pines, running cross country, awesome...


Here's the video interview by Nikita Berezhkov (cut and paste the link): www.hotice.ru/events/video/1147/

Alexander, how do you spend your vacation?
As you can see... moving... with hockey stick in my car

Just recently you got a job with Dynamo as an adviser. What are your job functions?
Well, advise the President on some questions that arise, help kids' hockey school like doing hockey clinics for kids, help maybe in very small details that need to be solved...

Mikhail Tyurkin said that you already helped him with some small NHL nuances that he can use in KHL. Can you tell about them?
Why would I? (smiling)

It is interesting.
It is some confidential stuff that I don't want to discuss (smiling)

If it is not a secret, how much do you make at Dynamo?
Mot much. I am making more in America. (smiling)

Tyurkin said that you were ready to financially help Dynamo's kids hockey school. Can you tell more about it?
It's not the financial help, it is help in shipping to the kids sticks, skates, uniforms, i.e. shipping the equipment to the kids from America, to those who are in the Dynamo's hockey school. I also help last year, actually this year, to Mordvin's [Alex Mom is of Mordvin, i.e Finnish ethnicity - tj] kids hockey school. I've sent a hockey equipment including skates, sticks, uniforms for 30 kids. They were very happy. You have to help the kids if you can, why not?

Just recently you've recorded your first rap song. (Ovechkin grins) Can you tell about it?
Nah, nothing to talk about it. The song is the song, nothing special.

Can you sing it?
Nah, I don't have a good voice.

Last season you started your own line of clothes. This year you've recorded a rap song. What is next?
Maybe I'll become a journalist.

Do you have a perspective?
Why not? I know all the questions...

Today NHL rejected Kovalchuk's contract. Can you comment on it.
So far no comments, and no answer. (Ovi's shaking his head) That's all, I am leaving. (In the back Tyurkin and some other guy are approaching and Ovi greets them, "Hi")



Second part of the interview is with Dynamo's President, major-general, PhD, head of Russian INS Mikhail Tyurkin...

How did you come up with an idea of hiring Ovechkin as on advisor?
I can tell you this: Alexander Ovechkin has never left Dynamo. This is his alumni club and when we looked at our best graduates Ovechkin was the first and the right choice. I think it is very helpful for KHL and for Dynamo club.

In your interview you said that Ovechkin had really helped you with some nuances that you were going to use from now. Can you tell about them?
I'd say one of the main nuances is the attitude to the business. As far as I understood in the NHL the hockey players and the management are very serious about how they conduct the business. If we will start using the same attitude in the KHL, on the same level as it is in the NHL, our hockey will change as well.




More from Dynamo.ru photo gallery: www.dynamo.ru/gallery.php?id=187


Ovi: "Nah, I am not gonna sing for you, but I have a better voice than Keith Richards"



Moscow Dynamo's President, major-general, PhD, head of Russian INS Tyurkin: "Arizona's new immigration law, on the other hand..."

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Another day as an advisor

Tyurkin (Who is Tyurkin?) and Ovechkin


Head Coach of Moscow Dynamo football team Miodrag Bozovic: "What is my the attitude to the fact that my football players became friends with the joker Ovechkin? And when the NHL season starts? In October? Uh-O! I am looking forward when he'll leave to start training in America!" (SovSport.ru)

:-)

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Forbes Russia: Ovechkin is 3rd, Sharapova is first

Forbes Russia:

Alexander Ovechkin

Place in the Forbes stars rating: 3

Revenues: $ 12,000,000

Sport: hockey

Season 2009/2010 was not very fortunate for Alexander Ovechkin. At first he suffered a crushing defeat from Canada at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver with the national team of Russia. Then his Washington Capitals team, who was considered the main contender for the Stanley Cup, was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. And at the end the Russian team, which brought All-Stars team to the world hockey championship, lost in the final to the Czech Republic.

The main Russian star according to the latest issue of magazine Forbes is a tennis player Maria Sharapova. She is followed by the singer Alla Pugacheva and in the third place is Alexander Ovechkin.

Forbes made the ratings based on income, mentions in print media, and "Yandex" searches (Russian search engine) in the past year.



This makes Ovechkin Russia’s richest and most famous male celebrity.

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Ovechkin will prepare for the season with Kovalchuk

On July 21 [2010] the Russia's national team and Washington's forward Alexander Ovechkin, who recently became an advisor to the President of unified Dynamo team, arrived to Novogorsk to take part in the evening friendly training game between the club members and the veterans of the MVD. Before the training started Alexander talked to the press service of the club.

Alexander, when you visit Dynamo training facilty, do you have nostalgic feelings?
Of course. It's my alumni, my native walls. So it's always nice to come back.

Do you know all of the employees here?
Of course. However some people have retired now. I'm talking about the grandma's and grandpa's who rooted for us and did everything possible so that players would feel comfortable.

Are you going to prepare for the season in Novogorsk?
Yes, I am. I think I'll start practicing in Novogorsk sometime on August 15th. In the meantime I will prepare individually with Kovalchuk and his personal fitness coach.



Do you plan to skate today?
Yes, I do. I need to "shake my fat" a bit. Get out on the ice and play for a half hour.

Everybody now knows that you have become an advisor to President of Dynamo club. How do you feel yourself in this position and what you think what is most important in the new job?
I think it's a positive thing for me and for the club. I will be asked about the NHL. I will be asked about the players, I think, too. I am all for it, always ready for the dialogue. If anything, they know my phone number.

Was it easy for you to agree to this offer?
Of course. You can't refuse such proposals.

Some of the fans are rather skeptical about the changes that have occurred with the Dynamo. Can you say something encouraging to them?
At first I was also upset because of the merge with HC MVD. But now I see that these people came to the club to make it better. Perhaps even better than now. So I look at this situation with the optimism.

Source: www.dynamo.ru/newsclub.php?full=13678


So who is the president of Dynamo United Mikhail Tyurkin who hired Ovechkin?

I had no idea, but I googled it, and the guy has an impressive resume. He guided HC MVD club to the Gagarin's Cup finals last season, a Russian equivalent of Stanley Cup finals. The HC MVD has one of the lowest team's payrolls in KHL, not even close to such a billionaire owned teams like Ak Bars with Jaromir Jarg and others.




The head of Russian INS, president of Moscow Dynamo United hockey club Mikhail Tyurkin. July 21, 2010.



He was born on September 30, 1967 in Siberian city of Irkutsk. He is a Doctor of Laws (PhD) and also has a military rank of Major-General. But what is impressive, he participated in the clean-up operation on the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident. Not too many Russians who were there are alive today.

Nowadays he heads the Russian INS, for God's sake... :-)

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Ovechkin: We must look forward

Alexander Ovechkin went out on the ice for the first time after that unfortunate for him last season. He appeared at his alumni training facility in Novogorsk in a new capacity as an adviser to the president of Dynamo United Mikhail Tyurkin. Ovechkin had a team Russia red helmet a new white jersey with the classic emblem of his alumni club, a letter "D" and number 10. This is what Dynamo United will be wearing in the upcoming season in KHL. However, there was no jersey with the name Ovechkin, the apparent omission by the organizers. The hockey star had to borrow a sweater with the name "M. Tyurkin.


Ovechkin and Dynamo's president M. Tyurkin (right). July 21, 2010. Photo by Fedor Uspensky.


"Who's against me and Sasha," joked reminding us about the old anecdote Dynamo's president in front of the television and still cameras. The team, where in addition to Tyurkin twins were Komarov (Russian Finn - tj) and Dvurechensky, locked their opponents, the veterans of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in their zone almost for good. Ovechkin was on the ice for just half an hour and then he went to the locker room.

"It's enough for the first time," said Ovechkin on the way. "My hands and my feet now remember what hockey is. But I've rested enough, how much longer can you? It's time to start moving. And since I was invited by such people, you have to come."

Rashid Nurgaliev, the minister of Interior Affairs was missing among "such people", he was too busy to get to Novogorsk.

Have you stepped on the ice in the new capacity?
Yes, I am now an advisor to the president. Mikhail Leonidych (Tyurkin) asked me and I agreed. This is my alumni club. This is good for me and good for Dynamo.

A lot of Dynamo fans are not ready yet to recognized the unified Dynamo team.
When I first heard back in America that the former Dynamo will be no more, I was in shock. But back then it was a total uncertainty about the future of the club. But our friends, who are familiar with the new leadership of the club, told about them nothing but good. They will do everything to make the team to be the best.

What about you, is the current Dynamo the club that you left?
They have the same Dynamo's logo, the colors are the same as well. The team is training in Novogorsk. There's a change in power, in people, but the club remains the same. Nobody wants to lose the traditions of Dynamo, nobody. As for the fans, I can say they are the main thing for any team. And I want to tell them, this is the real Dynamo team. Come and root for the team.

What is included in your advisor's role?
Whatever I am asked about I am here to help. The main thing that must be good for the club. If they want to talk about the players, I can tell what I know. Something else, no problem as well. I only want Dynamo to benefit from this.

What are your short term plans?
For now I am planning to work out in the gym. I'll start training on the ice later. For now I am going to train once a week at most. And I won't go to Peter[sburg], as I did last year.

Have you ever train with the President of the club before the season?
No, of course not. I've never had this with such people. Although it doesn't change anything in preparation for the next season.

Have you tried to convince the owner of the Capitals Ted Leonsis to put the skates on in Washington?
Haven't tried yet. I am not sure what will come of out of it (laughs).

Have you overseen the epic Kovalchuk's contract negotiations?
Of course! But I thought Ilya would choose Los Angeles. But I believe that he made the right decision by signing a long-term contract with New Jersey. Their club is one of the favorites in recent years. Kovalchuk wants to win, now he has a chance.

Were you surprised to the contract terms?
The longer the better. The athlete's life is short, with the long-term contract you can secure your future for yourself, for your relatives and friends. After you sign the contract, you don't think about anyhing but hockey. I can confirm it from my personal experience. Kovalchuk made the right decision. Our Bäckström also signed a multi-year contract and he now plays even better than before.

Do you think Kovalchuk would play till he would be 44 or or he would return to Russia?
I don't know it, you have to ask him. But to regret that Kovalchuk signed a contract with New Jersey and not with another team, is not worth it. It's his choice.

You have signed the contract with Washington for "only" 13 years. Maybe you should've sign for a lifetime ?
To go on the ice till the end of my life deprived of drinking wine and smoking cigarettes? No, it's not for me (laughs).

Are you surprised by Nabokov's decision to go to the KHL's team SKA?
He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. But as I read it, Nabokov was guided by the interests of his family. And the family suggested that it would be better that way. I think Zhenja could be the number one in any NHL team. Not just right now, but for several years from now on. He played very good and solid in San Jose.

Do you know that your former partner Washington Capitals Chris Bourque moved to the KHL this summer?
Where? To the Atlant? I can't say a single bad word about him. The guy is good, technical and nimble.

Have you already kicked the last season out of your head?
Yes, whatever it was, it passed. Nothing can be done about it now. We must look forward. Perhaps we didn't have enough psyche and luck. Hopefully we'll improve in this incoming season.

Source: www.sport-express.ru/newspaper/2010-07-22/1_2/
Photo gallery: www.sport-express.ru/photo/951

Reporting live from Novogorsk,

this is Emily.

Watch Russian video of Ovechkin's training here:

news.sportbox.ru/Vidy_sporta/Hokkej/spbvideo_Ovechkin-gotovitsya-k-sezonu-v-Moskve

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