Alexander Ovechkin declared 2014 a go

[andypanda]

Alexander Ovechkin declared to the hockey world recently that he would play for his native Russia come the 2014 Winter Olympics, an event will be held in nearby Sochi. Considering that the NHL has made no firm commitment to the Olympics past Vancouver 2010, Ovechkin's stance on his five-rings participation is a bold one.

No one should be surprised by Ovechkin's statement; like his play on the ice, the decision was made independently, with a whole lot of flair and bravado that flies in the face of the whole hockey hierarchy (right, Don Cherry?) He's also one of the ambassadors for Sochi 2014, and what would it look like if the main figures wouldn't be attending, much less playing, at that country's first games since the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow?

In Torino 2006, while on a line with fellow Russian star Evgeni Malkin, Ovechkin's hyperkinetic play was con brio. Ovechkin scored five goals of the highlight-reel variety for a Russian team that finished fourth. One can only wonder how jacked up his performance - and Team Russia's - will be when it takes place in the first Winter Olympics in that country's history come 2014. Ovechkin's foil, Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby, is getting his coming out-Olympic party in February. Why can't Alexander the Great, a player whom is just as lauded as Sir Sidney, get his Olympic chance to perform in one of his country's most patriotic sports moemnts?

The NHL and its respective player's association are thinking long and hard about its Olympic association post-Vancouver 2010. The former is still uneasy about shutting down its schedule for almost a month to accomdate the five-ring circus, and extending an already taxing regular season schedule. The latter are gravitating towards future Olympic participation for the simple fact that exposure will raise their constituents' profile and ergo, their wealth. The fact that the 2010 Games take place in North America and not six time zones away may factor into the league's decision to make Vancouver the last Olympics for the NHL.

The Washington Capitals' star stance on his participation in Sochi is a white-gloved slap at both organizations - he has stated he will play in Sochi regardless of the NHL's role, and will risk suspension doing so - and quite refreshing. Ovechkin is forcing the hand of the league to do something about this issue, as he wants to play in what is probably the top-tier event for international ice hockey. The introduction of NHLers to the Winter Olympics has been good for the game and invokes the Olympic spirit of having the best playing against the best in the world. It would be nice if other hockey superstars would follow suit publicly - i.e. Crosby for Canada, Patrick Kane for the U.S., the Sedin twins from Sweden - but given Ovechkin's populartity, attitude and on-ice elan for the game, his words should reasonate a lot louder than his hockey contemporaries.

Ovechkin is the NHL's best player in the past three years and probably, with all apologies to Malkin and his Pittsburgh teammate Crosby, the most identifable hockey player on the planet. People who don't follow hockey know of Ovechkin's You-Tubed, jaw-dropping, goal-scoring exploits and are gravitating towards the game. So when Alexander the Great speaks through that gap-toothed, scruffy-faced grin about an event in his home country that will bring out his play even more than usual, the NHL should listen.

http://sportsisreal.blogspot.com

[bidds55]

I think by doing this, Ovie has dramatically increased the likelihood of NHL participation in Sochi. Good on him for speaking out for what he thinks is right. The fans deserve a world class tournament, and the Olympics is realistically the only opportunity which has been consistently available for that in hockey.