Photo: Washington Capitals

As he took the ice, all eyes in MedStar Capitals Iceplex locked on him, and cheered as he put the puck in the net. Players and coaches alike watched as No. 8 skated around the ice, so amazing was his skill and skating abilities.

This of course, is not Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, but his oldest son Sergei (4), who took to the ice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex today, showing signs of becoming quite the talented young hockey player.

Sergei, or “Ovi Jr.” as he is affectionately known, joined his father and the rest of the team on the ice, completely adorned in hockey gear right down to his father’s trademark yellow skate laces.

A day at the rink with #OviJr pic.twitter.com/Wz9AcXpy6y

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 30, 2022

The toddler, who helped the team’s mascot Slapshot unfurl the Goal Countdown banner at Capital One Arena after his father scored his 800th career goal, was born just two months after the Caps captured their first Stanley Cup championship in summer 2018 and has been a frequent visitor to practices in the past, recently taking the ice after one of his father’s historical milestones earlier this season.

The Capitals faithful in attendance on Friday morning were clearly impressed with the four-year old’s “performance”, which included two goals on number one goaltender Darcy Kuemper.

The cheering. The smile. 🥹#OviJr pic.twitter.com/iYeFp4mYHL

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 30, 2022

Sergei, a left-handed shot unlike his father, impressed with another goal on 6’6″ forward Aliaksei Protas, who was seemingly no match for Ovi Jr’s wicked shot.

Ovi Jr scoring on Protas. Adorable. His little jersey says Ovi Jr 🥹 #allcaps pic.twitter.com/CoYaXhBqBu

— BarryWhite Hanson (@BarryWhiteHansn) December 30, 2022

Although a small sample size, some in attendance believe The Great Eight’s progeny is capable of becoming an NHL player.

Screaming, crying, throwing up

He scored on Kuemper TWICE, the boy is already NHL material pic.twitter.com/SPTWMDmE6x

— Margaret H. Lastname (@RestYourBreasts) December 30, 2022

After his exemplary performance, Ovi Jr. practiced his goal celebrations, watched closely by his dad, whose ecstatic response to lighting the lamp is well-known.

Post-practice family time

Ovi Jr. working on some skills (and celebrations) while dad looks on#ALLCAPS host #GoHabsGo tomorrow pic.twitter.com/oA6KCuYQRf

— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) December 30, 2022

Sergei and his younger brother Ilya (2) joined their father in the Caps’ locker room following his record-setting, two-goal performance on December 13, and have been included in many celebratory occasions for their dad, including back home in Russia prior to the NHL regular season.

Alex, who was seen filming his first-born throughout most of this morning’s father-son time, has previously commented on Sergei’s love for the game that his father has left such a mark on, expressing his pride and adoration of his oldest son’s affinity for the sport.

With his grandmother (Alex’s mother) Tatyana a two-time Olympian basketball player, and grandfather Mikhail having played soccer, Ovi Jr. seems to be well on his way to joining his family’s athletic ranks. However, the 2036 NHL Entry Draft is still a long ways away and he could ultimately decide to pursue other interests…although we would probably bet against that if today’s showing was any indication.

After such a hard effort, Ovi and Ovi Jr. departed MedStar Capitals Iceplex, although it won’t be the last time the eldest of the two Ovechkin boys laces ’em up with the Caps at practice.

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The Capitals are back in action on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.

By Michael Fleetwood