The returning president of the United States mentioned the puck star of the country’s capital.
Donald Trump praised Aleksandr Ovechkin. AOP / USA TODAY SPORTS
Donald Trump gave a speech on Sunday, in which he introduced his inauguration, which is coming up today, and his future term as president.
The event was held at Washington’s Capitol One arena.
At one point, Trump began to brag About Ted Leonswhose owned teams the Wizards and Capitals used to call Capitol One home. Trump was grateful to Leonsis for providing the framework for his speech.
The NHL club leading its own division and its long-time captain Alexander Ovechkin received a special mention from the man.
– The team is doing really well, Trump referred to the Capitals.
– And Ovechkin is a great captain.
Ovechkin, 39, has only represented the Washington Capitals during his NHL career that began in 2005. The man’s current contract extends to the end of the 2025–26 season.
Donald Trump in a stock photo. ZumaWire / MVPHOTOS
Praise from Russia
In Russia, people were delighted with the praise.
The agent representing Ovechkin in his home country Gleb Chistyakov quoththat the target gun is a national hero in Washington.
Chistjakov reminded that the only Stanley Cup victory in the Capitals’ club history in 2018 came precisely during Trump’s first term in power.
– We hope that Trump’s new season will be successful again for Sasha and his team.
Bullying coach Andrei Nazarov went even further in his hopes. The man who played in the NHL and coached in the KHL suggested that Trump could possibly influence the sports sanctions imposed due to the war in Ukraine.
– It is wonderful that our athletes are appreciated abroad. Perhaps the new head of the United States will remove sanctions from Russian athletes with international status. The heads of international sports organizations should at least think about it, Nazarov announced.
– In general, we can only be proud that the president of another country mentions our players in his speech. This once again proves that Ovechkin, one of the founders of the Putin Team, is rightfully the ambassador of Russian sports to the world.