A Gr8 Day for the Capitals: A Recap of Alex Ovechkin’s Day with the Stanley Cup

Photo: @Capitals

It’s been just over three weeks since the Capitals were crowned the 2018 Stanley Cup champions and since that time the team has been enjoying the first month of a celebratory summer with family and friends, and for many, preparing for their personal day with the Stanley Cup (see the team itinerary here). After recently re-signed defenseman John Carlson spent his day with the Cup in the Nation’s Capital, captain Alex Ovechkin got his day with the Cup today, and did so in his home country of Russia. In this article, NoVa Caps looks at The Great Eight’s day with Lord Stanley.

After the Cup arrived in Russia yesterday, the first thing the Conn Smythe Trophy (Most Valuable Player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs) winner did today was share the 35-pound trophy with his father Mikhail, who was not in the United States/Vegas when the Capitals won Game 5 of their Stanley Cup Final matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights, at the place at which he played his youth hockey, Dynamo Hockey School. Since Ovechkin was drafted by the Capitals in 2004, his parents (Mikhail and mother Tatyana) have been among his biggest supporters, making Mikhail Ovechkin’s “meeting” with the Stanley Cup extra special.

.@ovi8 meeting his father at his hometown rink Novogorsk Dynamo Hockey School pic.twitter.com/QlhIGku6oC

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 7, 2018

Doing a few laps at the old stomping grounds #ALLCAPS @ovi8 pic.twitter.com/VmZnfGoC9Z

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 7, 2018

The childhood locker room #ALLCAPS @ovi8 pic.twitter.com/cYVEoNiOFQ

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 7, 2018

Ovechkin also took the Cup to his home city of Moscow, where a crowd of hundreds of people waited in line in pouring rain for a number of hours to take a photo with their native son.

It’s raining, and this line to take a photo with Ovechkin and the Cup stretches on for what feels like forever. He’s been here for more than two hours already. pic.twitter.com/aLeGL6uvLz

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) July 7, 2018

While at the Dynamo Hockey school, Ovechkin happened upon a picture of Capitals teammate Nicklas Backstrom, who played alongside Ovechkin with the Dynamo Moscow hockey club during the 2012-13 lockout. Ovechkin decided to “celebrate” by holding the Stanley Cup next to the photo of his partner in crime.

Familiar face in the Dynamo Hockey Hall of Fame @backstrom19 #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Tp8bTowMR8

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 7, 2018

The Capitals’ captain also celebrated at the World Cup (of soccer) fan fest, which is being held in Russia, where he paraded the Cup onto a stage before an excited crowd of fans, who cheered loudly at the sight of the prized chalice.

Ladies and gentlemen, @ovi8 #WorldCup Fan Fest #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/eA679TN7js

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 7, 2018

Elite pic.twitter.com/6E07hrMjCv

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 7, 2018

In which Ovechkin holds the Cup next to Backstrom’s Dynamo photo pic.twitter.com/rksYMoNvu3

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) July 7, 2018

In all, Ovechkin’s day with Cup showed just how big of an influence Ovechkin is in his home country and there are many people who will never forget the day the future Hall of Famer lifted the Cup in front of them.