Capitals’ Owner Ted Leonsis Says He Will Back Alex Ovechkin, Players Who Want to Play in Olympics

Posted on October 7, 2016 by Jon Sorensen
ted-leonsis-alex-ovechkin
Geoff Burke/USA Today

As he did in 2014, Washington Capitals’ owner Ted Leonsis says he’ll back Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and his players if they want to go to the 2018 Olympics, even if the NHL doesn’t shut down. 

In an interview with former Capitals beat reporter Alex Prewitt for Sports Illustrated, Leonsis had the following to say about the situation:

leonsis-response-to-olympics

Alex Ovechkin was asked during the World Cup of Hockey, if he planned to play in the upcoming 2018 Olympics, to be held in South Korea.

 

Ovechkin has made it clear since early last year that his plan was to play in the Olympics, regardless of a potential ban.

 

The NHL made its first public comments regarding Ovechkin’s statements during the World Cup of Hockey, stating it is looking less likely the NHL will send its players.

According to an article in today’s Chicago Tribune, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has set a deadline of January 15th for the NHL to decide.

Alex Prewitt’s complete interview with Ted Leonsis can be found here:

By Jon Sorensen

About Jon Sorensen

Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.
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11 Responses to Capitals’ Owner Ted Leonsis Says He Will Back Alex Ovechkin, Players Who Want to Play in Olympics

  1. Anonymous says:
    October 7, 2016 at 11:50 am

    Great Organizations start at the Top…we are so blessed to have have this CAPs ownership….Thank you Mr. Leonsis!!!!

    Reply
  2. Angie Clowry says:
    October 31, 2016 at 1:06 pm

    To me this doesn’t make sense except loss of revenue for the NHL. YES the NHL can put on The World Cup of hockey that didn’t make sense to the general public hockey loving fan.

    I think it would be a poor decision by the NHL one that will backfire in ratings it’s every 4 years the NHL can plan or it. Plan for it better than the World Juniors!

    Reply

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  8. Carol McAfee says:
    May 15, 2017 at 8:32 am

    Thank God the Caps have Ted Leonsis for an owner in the tradition of Abe Polin. Kudos for supporting your players! The Olymipcs are a special case. Why the nhl is being stubborn when they have made allowances before. Olympics introduce people to Hockey. More hockey fans. How is that a bad thing?

    Reply

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