At the 2008 IIHF World Championships, Ovechkin helped led Russia to the gold medal by finishing with 12 points (six goals, six assists) in nine games. He was selected to the Media All-Star Team for the second time in five tournament appearances.
This photo Author User:Buchanan-Hermit was add to Flickr (c) from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ovechkin_2006.jpg
Alexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin (age 22) was born September 17, 1985 in Moscow, USSR. He is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. He is the highest paid NHL player ever, signing a 13-year contract extension worth $124 million with the Capitals, the richest in NHL history. He lives in Arlington, Virginia.Sophomore Sensations - Alexander Ovechkin
From Gossip news by Russia we knew that Alexander Ovechkina in love with former wife Vladimir Presnjakov.
March, 26 on the occasion of homecoming the winner of "Eurovision - 2008" Dima Bilan in Moscow the closed party was held. To congratulate a triumpher those who is more strong than others there came held fists for the Russian combined team. Among them there was a world champion on hockey Alexander Ovechkin - he has appeared on a party with the new girlfriend, the designer and Lena Lenskaya former wife Presnyakov.
Ovechkin is Star NHL, the world champion, the owner of every possible titles and simply a handsome man Alexander Ovechkin has come on an invited buffet table one of the first and has on the spot joined missing Anton Siharulidze. Having refueled a glass a drink, sportsmen have started to discuss last gossips of "Eurovision". Russian bogatyrs long argued, what from girls of competition was lovelier, ruddier than all and is more white. And here their tastes be dispatched.
- You will be disappointed by the greek woman, - ascertained the fact the Belgrad informer, - at her such opposite squeaky voice.
- Well, she not for conversations is necessary for him, - deputy Siharulidze has summed up to all.
But how the Greek beauty, a choice involved Ovechkin the he all the same has stopped on Russian. The 22-years hockey player has carried out all evening in the company of Lena Lenskaya.
Lena, former spouse Vladimir Presnjakova, - the talented designer, whose authorship posesses suits of "musketeers" on "Eurovision". Elena Fine was would like to communicate to one of the most highly paid hockey players of league and on compliments has not stinted. On assurances of close friends Ovechkina, this pair any more the first week is connected with romantic relations.
- You, certainly, good fellows, I looked a match and very much experienced, - Lena told. - Well and you, Alex, were, as always, at height!
Ovechkin and Lenskaya have left a party together at night. Alexander as the true gentleman, has given Lena the jacket and, having taken for a hand, has led to the machine... That the present conqueror means!
Photo was posted to Flickr on February 8, 2007 by guano and (c) from http://www.flickr.com/photos/guano/383864948/
He was the first overall selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, but due to the 2004-05 NHL lockout, he began play in the 2005-06 NHL season. During the 2007-08 season, he led the NHL with 65 goals and 112 points to capture the Richard and Art Ross Trophies.
In Russia, hockey teams build players in their systems from childhood. Ovechkin began playing in the Dynamo Moscow system. At 16, he made his debut for Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Superleague in the 2001-2002 season.
In the 2003-2004 season, he won the Superleague award for Best Left Wing and became the youngest Dynamo Moscow player to lead the team in scoring.
In 2004-2005, he missed nearly two months of play because of a shoulder injury sustained in the Gold Medal Game against Canada in the World Junior Championships.
Alexander Ovechkin is the son of Mikhail Ovechkin, a former professional football (soccer) player, and Tatyana Ovechkina who won two Olympic gold medals while competing for the Soviet women's basketball team in the 1976 Summer Olympics at Montreal and in 1980 at Moscow.
The first signs of the Ovechkin's future came when he was a child. At the age of two, in a Soviet toy store, Alexander grabbed a toy stick and helmet and refused to let go. His parents treasure the picture to this day. As a small child, whenever he saw a hockey game on TV, he "threw all his toys" and ran to the TV. He "protested strongly" if his parents tried to change the channel. His parents say they knew he would be an athlete when Alexander chose to run up the steps to their apartment rather than take the elevator.
He began playing hockey at the age of 7. Soon after he began, however, he had to postpone his hockey career because his parents were unable to take him to the rink. But one of Ovechkin's coaches saw Ovechkin's talent and communicated to his parents that he should continue to play hockey. Ovechkin's brother, Sergei, who later died in a car accident, saw that Alexander loved hockey and insisted that he be allowed to return.
Since he studied at the Military Institute for Border Guards, Ovechkin did not have to go through compulsory military service.
Ovechkin was the first overall draft choice in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, going to the Washington Capitals. He had been projected as the first overall pick for nearly two years , and had earned comparison to Mario Lemieux. He was so highly regarded, the Florida Panthers attempted to draft him in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft in the 9th round, even though his birthday was two days after the cuttoff (September 15th, 1985). Rick Dudley, the general manager of the Panthers, claimed the pick was legitimate, saying that using leapyears Ovechkin was old enough.
Following the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Alexander Ovechkin played his first game with the Capitals on October 5, 2005, scoring two goals in a 3-2 victory over Columbus. In a shootout against Anaheim, Ovechkin scored the winning goal to end the game at 5-4.
Ovechkin was named the NHL Rookie of the Month for December 2005.
On January 13, 2006 in Anaheim, Ovechkin scored his first career hat trick against Jean-Sebastian Giguere of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks to help Washington win the game.
On January 16, 2006, Alexander Ovechkin scored a goal that veteran hockey reporter Bill Clement called "one of the greatest goals of all time." Knocked down by Paul Mara, a defenseman for the Phoenix Coyotes, then sliding on his back and facing away from the net, Ovechkin was able to hook the puck with one hand on his stick and slide it into the net past goalie Brian Boucher for his second goal of the night.
On February 1, 2006, Ovechkin was named NHL Rookie of the Month for January 2006 as well as being named Offensive Player of the Month, becoming only the third player in NHL history to earn both honors in a single month.
Ovechkin led 2005-2006 NHL rookies in goals, points, power-play goals, and shots. He finished third overall in the NHL in scoring and tied for third in goals. His 425 shots led the league, set an NHL rookie record, and was the fourth-highest total in NHL history. Ovechkin’s point total was the second-best in Washington Capitals history and his goal total tied for third in franchise history. He was also named to the NHL First All-Star Team, the first rookie to receive the honor in 15 years. After the season ended, Ovechkin received the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best rookie. EA Sports made him the cover athlete for NHL 07.
Following the 2006-2007 NHL season, Ovechkin was awarded the Kharlamov Trophy, which is named after Valery Kharlamov and presented by Sovetsky Sport. The Kharlamov Trophy honors the best Russian NHL player as voted by other Russian NHL players.
Ovechkin played alongside fellow young phenom Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2007 NHL All-Star Game, held on January 24, 2007, in Dallas, Texas. He scored his first All-Star game goal.
On December 29, 2007, Ovechkin notched his third hat trick against Ottawa Senators netminder, Martin Gerber. Ovechkin tallied 5 points that night: 4 goals and 1 assist to lead the Capitals to a 8-6 victory. On January 31, 2008, he had another 5-point performance (4 goals, 1 assist) in a 5-4 overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens.
After much speculation, Ovechkin signed a 13-year contract extension worth $124 million with the Capitals on January 10, 2008. The contract, which averages $9.5 million per year, is the richest in NHL history. Working without an agent, Ovechkin negotiated with Capitals owner Ted Leonsis and general manager George McPhee.
On March 3, 2008, Ovechkin notched his fourth hat trick, against the Boston Bruins. He scored his 50th, 51st, and 52nd goals of the season, the second time he has hit the 50-goal mark in three seasons with the Capitals.
On March 21, 2008, Ovechkin scored his 59th and 60th goals of the season against the Atlanta Thrashers. He was the first NHL player to score 60 goals in a season since 1996. He is the 19th player ever to reach the 60 goal plateau. On March 25, Ovechkin scored his 61st goal to hold the Washington Capital's team record for regular season goals previously held by Dennis Maruk. He would break Luc Robitaille's record for most goals by a left winger in one season on April 3, 2008, by scoring two goals, his 64th and 65th of the season.
Alex Ovechkin finished the 2007-08 NHL season as the leader in points (112) and goals (65), and will thus be awarded both the Art Ross Trophy and the Rocket Richard Trophy.
In his first NHL playoff game, Ovechkin scored the game-winning goal with less than five minutes left.
Info (c) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Ovechkin
