Alexander Ovechkin has heard his name called at Capital One Arena more times than he could count, and after announcing on Monday that this will be his final NHL season, Wednesday was the last time it would happen on an opening night.
The Washington Capitals handed the job to someone else. PA announcer Wes Johnson worked through the rest of the roster as usual, and then two boys in full Capitals gear, both wearing their father’s No. 8, took the microphone.
“Your captain, number 8, Alexander Ooooooooovechkin,” sons Sergei and Ilya yelled.
Ovechkin hugged them both before skating out to join his teammates at center ice while the building roared. He was also mic’d up for TNT’s broadcast, which caught his first reaction once he got there.
“They nailed it, yup,” he told Tom Wilson, beaming.
How did Ovechkin react to his sons introducing him?
The nerves apparently ran in both directions. Ovechkin said afterwards that he’d spoken to one of his sons beforehand and found him worried about getting it right.
“I was talking to one of my kids before that and they was nervous as well, but you have to have a mindset of don’t worry about it, don’t be nervous, and just say it and it’ll be okay,” Ovechkin said. “It was huge crowd, kids announce my name. It was pretty special moment.”
He also knows exactly what the clip will be worth in 20 years.
“It’s gonna be lots of memories, lots of fun when they grow up,” he said. “We’re going to watch it together. It’s pretty special.”
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The hockey was less memorable for him personally. Ovechkin went pointless in a 5-3 win over Pittsburgh, closing out a home-opener career that began on October 5, 2005, when he scored twice in his first game at what was then the MCI Center. Across 21 of them he finished with 31 points.
Wednesday also marked the 101st meeting between Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby across the regular season and playoffs.
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