- Ovechkin addressed his appearance in a United Russia campaign ad on Day 1 of Capitals camp
- He said he had no hesitation filming it and has not received any blowback
- Read below for his full comments and what Spencer Carbery said about it
Alex Ovechkin spent the first day of Capitals training camp answering for something that had nothing to do with hockey.
Washington’s captain was asked Thursday at media day why he agreed to appear in a campaign commercial for United Russia, the party aligned with Vladimir Putin.
“Well, I would say I’m Russian and I support my country. So, how I said, I hope for peace and love and I hope in the world it doesn’t matter who you are.”
The ad surfaced earlier this week, days before camp opened. Ovechkin appears in it standing behind Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, who carries sanctions from the US, the UK, the European Union and Canada over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Former Soviet star Viacheslav Fetisov took part as well. Russia holds its parliamentary election this week, and the only party that opposed the war is off the ballot.
Reporters pressed him on how it came together.
“They asked me to do that. I say yes. So it’s as simple as that.”
He said he had no hesitation, and that nobody has given him any blowback.
Plenty has landed elsewhere. Hall of Fame goaltender Dominik Hasek posted a photo of the group and named both Ovechkin and Fetisov:
Chef Jose Andres, who built his restaurant empire in DC, tagged the Capitals and the NHL:
South Carolina congressman Joe Wilson also sent Gary Bettman a letter this week, asking the league to review the appearance.
Spencer Carbery was asked whether any of this becomes a problem inside the room. The Capitals coach said it does not.
“I know O as good as anybody inside this organization. I know his family, and I know what he’s all about. And I haven’t seen the video, but I know this: O has done an amazing job in my time here.”
Take a look at Carbery’s full media day availability:
Ovechkin, who turned 41 on Thursday, confirmed he plans to live in Russia once he is done playing.
“My home is Russia. This is my second home. I grew up here as a person.”
He is back for a 22nd season sitting on 929 career goals, with nothing committed past this one. Then he ended the topic himself.
“I’m focusing right now on training camp,” Ovechkin said. “I have to make the team.”
