Ovi sits with head coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov and Pavel Datsyuk (Photo: Getty)
Around 2AM eastern time, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and fiancee Maria Kirilenko landed in Sochi. Russian dudes Artem Anisimov and Pavel Datsyuk were there as well. The arrival signaled the beginning of a long day for the Russian machine, which I will now document for you.
Before even deplaning, Ovechkin took care of one pressing matter: letting his one million Twitter followers know that he had arrived safely. “We’re in Sochi!” Ovechkin said around 10am Russian time.
Мы в Сочи!!
— Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) February 10, 2014
Next, Ovi made his way to the Olympic Village, where he will stay for the next two weeks. He tweeted a photo of the Olympic flame, burning in the distance. “We arrived at the Olympic Village. So cool!”
Приехали в олимпийскую деревню!бомба!!! pic.twitter.com/FzBjl5uLHe
— Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) February 10, 2014
A few hours later, Ovechkin tweeted another photo, this time from Bolshoy Ice Dome of his new skates. They were extra Russian-y. Then he jumped on the ice with his new teammates.
Dmitry Chesnokov reported the lines. Ovi will skate on the first line with his freindemi Evgeni and his bro Sasha (though who knows what will happen if/when Pavel Datsyuk plays).
Forwards:
Alex Ovechkin – Evgeni Malkin – Alexander Semin
Vladimir Tarasenko – Artem Anisimov – Nikolai Kulemin
Alexander Radulov – Aleksandr Svitov – Ilya Kovalchuk
Alexander Popov – Alexei Tereschenko – Viktor TikhonovDefensive pairings:
Anton Belov – Nikita Nikitin
Alexei Emelin – Evgeni Medvedev
Andrei Markov – Slava Voynov
Ilya Nikulin – Fedor Tyutin
Ovi quickly sought out Semin for a reunion.
Then it was time for some actual skating.
Like a happy dog does wag his tail, so too does a happy Ovi wag his tongue. He’s in heaven.
Photos via The Sporting News
Next, Coach Bill drew up some plays. The media already began to take notice: Ovi is fer ‘reals.
Team Russia today at #bolshoyicedome. Ovi paying close attention.#NYR #NYRangers #OlympicHockey pic.twitter.com/whOPITVkho
— Raymond Castoldi (@RayCastoldi) February 10, 2014
Next, came the team photo.
Photo: Scott Rovak
Come on, guys. Focus!
Photo: Scott Rovak
Almost there. Oh no, now Mike Wise is talking about expectations. Can we not? We were just starting to have some fun.
These guys better get out of the second round. pic.twitter.com/tfwrH67xTv
— Mike Wise (@MikeWiseguy) February 10, 2014
Once the team photo was taken, Ovechkin left the ice. He actually talked to the media. In fact, he charmed them.
Ovechkin started media scrum, had to leave, but then came right back. Very accommodating. No so much in Van pic.twitter.com/yvaP9wQUCY
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) February 10, 2014
I don't recall a time when I've seen Alex Ovechkin as relaxed as he was just now talking to the media in the mixed zone.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) February 10, 2014
Ovechkin asked if he's in the best shape of his career. "No … but will be in three days." #Sochi2014 #caps
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 10, 2014
Mike Wise front and center. Yahoo’s Greg Wyshynski reaches out to the left.
Here’s a few more Ovechkin quotes:
- “The situation is simple: You have to enjoy your moment and enjoy your time.”
- A win for Russian would “mean gold only cost $50 billion.”
- On jet lag: “The pressure is going to come 100% but right now we just have jet lag. We have a different time right now. I’m pretty sure you guys had the same thing for a couple days … Right now we just don’t realize what’s going on but I’m pretty sure (Tuesday) is going to be better.”
Finally, Ovechkin retreated back to his room. His day finally over.
He had time for one more tweet.
Ну что здесь еще сказать????))) pic.twitter.com/PNlXCwpSOX
— Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) February 10, 2014
“What else is there to say????))),” Ovi messaged, before turning in for the night.
Translations by Oksana Zolotar.
