The Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin was named Team Russia Captain, the Russian Federation of Hockey announced on Wednesday.
Forward Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins) and forward Pavel Datsyuk were selected as Russia’s alternate captains.
Ovechkin, 30, has recorded 525 goals and 966 points in 839 NHL games with the Capitals. The NHL’s leading goal scorer the last four seasons, Ovechkin has served as team captain in Washington since 2010. The Moscow, Russia native has won three gold medals with Team Russia at the IIHF World Championship (2008, 2012, 2014).
Ovechkin has won three gold medals with Team Russia at the IIHF World Championship (2008, 2012, 2014), last serving as Russia captain at the 2014 tournament. Datsyuk was the Russian captain for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, when the country didn’t medal for a third consecutive Olympics.
By Jon Sorensen
