This week on the in depth. Podcast. We travel to Russia for one of the greatest hockey players ever, Alex Ovechkin. When you get success in the game, you don't want to stop playing. The perennial All Star is going strong 20 years into his career and he just surpassed Wayne Gretzky, also former guest to the show as the NH LS all time leading goal scorer. Ahead, the superstar takes us through some career highlights. It was probably the best hit in my life.
And reflects on his childhood, including the loss of his older brother. I'm pretty sure he's probably, he's probably me right now. Look at me from upstairs. But we dropped the puck on her 2015 conversation with his entry into the NHL. So it's 2004, you're drafted first overall by the Washington Capitals, but the NHL shuts down because of a labor dispute for basically a year. You know, we were talking about this moment ago. You go to Siberia to play for a team.
You don't ultimately end up playing for them, but I think you're like living in the, you know, teams training facility at the time when you then get a call saying blackout's over, come play in Washington. Yeah. What do you remember from that? I remember I don't want to like say lots of thing, but when me, George, my agent, my parents was in a conference call, something happened with the line because it was a panic. Everybody was panicking.
Somebody wants to stay in Russia, somebody wants to come to Washington. And I don't know why, but the call was disconnected and I have like 5 minutes or 7 minutes. I was by myself in the room. It was dark and like, OK, what's, what's the position I am right now? I say, yes, I go to NHL or no, I stay in Russia for one or two years, more years. Of course it was a big decision and it wasn't my decision. And I make a decision when everybody was on the phone and said I'm coming to a new
channel. What were you thinking about in those 5 minutes? And I just tell you because. I mean, did you have any doubt that did you know definitively that you were going to go or were you? No, because I always stay in my home in in Moscow and decide to change the team because of the situation with the old president. And when I came to Omska, it was a unbelievable organization, great people, great team. Again, Jagger was there, Dasuk was there, and I just decided to
move on and take a big step. For me personally, because I was 18 or 19, I can't remember what, what age I was and I just decided to go to play in a child. So you're 1819 years old, make the decision to literally go to the other end of the world to live in a country, become the face of a franchise when you don't even speak the native language. How scary was coming to America?
My dream was to play an NHL. Obviously the atmosphere, the organization, the GM, the players and everybody helped me a lot. And on my first two days, I'll leave an hotel close to Verizon Center. And George Murphy took me for 10 days to his house and I spent 10 days out there. No languages. I play with his kids. And, you know, I want to know it's cornflakes. I want to eat cornflakes, but I don't know how to explain it. So it was. Kind of. How did you try to explain it?
I just I can't remember whether I just remember Clopia, Clopia, something like that. And he's like cornflakes and he show it to me and yes. And he tell his name a little cornflakes. OK. And a little bit step by step I started learning words and all kind of stuff. And my first roomie was Brian Wilson. He teach me how to put a tie on your suit. And we watched the video and again, it's all the team helped me a lot. Zebras, show me how to drive the car.
Not fast, you know, like all the fast. Yeah, all the kind of stuff. Follow the speed of it. Yeah. And again, it was a great, great memory and great experience for me. I I, I believe you did not want a translator when you first came over. And also you didn't. You mentioned your roommate. You didn't want to have a Russian roommate initially. You wanted to have a Canadian explain why. Well, first of all, back then I have a agent and my agent was she can speak English or
something like what I need. I always call her and give her a phone and she calls and translate. But I knew my career is going to be alone and then chill and I want to learn fast. So that's why I'm I'm pretty sure for we'll see. It was not a great time to live with me because my English was terrible. But but for him it's no. I want to thanks him for help me a lot for learning and teach me a little bit of words and all that kind of stuff. What was the most difficult part
about learning the language? It's just a situation when you have to talk. You know, you can be always on the Russian side because you stay, you stay with American guys, Canadian guys, European guys, and they speak different language and you want to be friends with them. So in your mind, you have to move forward and talking. It doesn't matter how bad you talk, if you try and they're going to be appreciated. You try to talk and they're
going to understand you. How quickly did you catch up? Not quick. Really, it seems like you did I mean to go over and not be able to realize. Even now my English is not that good but. For somebody who came over when I mean you're 1819 years old. No, but again, sometimes when I want to explain something, I can't explain it because it's I talk mostly time on Russian and it's it's kind of hard. Your NHL career got off to a
pretty amazing start first. The time you're out in the first period of the first game, you check a guy he was afraid to flash. What do you remember from that? I was nervous, very nervous. I couldn't sleep before the game took an. I can't take a nap so.
What are you thinking about? Nothing, because we have exhibition games and I feel good, but I never know, like when you came to the rink and you're driving like I was probably the first guy at the locker room because I was shaking, you know, like just your mind, you have to be ready for your mind, your body. So, and I didn't know what what to expect because exhibition game, it's an exhibition game, but first game of the season, it's a totally different thing.
And I want to do like back then, I just want to do something like, you know, maybe get hit or hit somebody or something like that. And then I hit pretty, pretty, pretty hard that guy. I can't, I don't know who it was, but the glass was broken, but not, not broken. It's some, you know, some part was that fell down the ice and I feel like, OK, here it is. This is NHL. OK, let's go. What was the home crowd reaction when you did that? So everybody was excited and on
the bench as well. So my first year of Washington was great. Great memories with the old GM George McPhee, coach Glen Helen and all the team team guys. You know, it was we don't have, you know, guys who can be successful on the eyes, but in the locker room was unbelievable. What was your level of confidence when you first came into the league those first few games as a rookie? I don't know what to expect on the game because I knew, like, lots of attentions on me because
I was #1 on the draft, you know? And when I just came to NHL, I knew like, I have to, first of all, I have to stay myself. I don't have to change it. My mentality, my workout or my hockey sense. And sometimes it's when sometimes people came to the league, they try to do something special. I don't try to do something special. I just start doing my thing.
I was talking to your coach the other day and he was telling me how before he took the job, he thought you were just going to be uncoachable, wasn't going to be a player that he enjoyed working with. He said to me his words, he goes, that's bull. I mean, Alex is a guy you want to be in the foxhole with you. He is great. Why do you think there was that misconception of you? Well, first of all, every coach who I have tell me what to do
and I did. And I don't know why people think like I'm not coachable or something like that, because coach it's, you know, on the boat, everybody stands in the boat and he's a he's a guy who said, OK, left side do it more, all right side, do it more. Everybody right now start together. And I don't want to be the guy who's who's be outside of the board and be selfish. You know, everyone on my opinion, everybody is a selfish
persons. But when it starts to get team results, you have to be on a team. It doesn't matter who's going to be coaching. You know who's going to be Jim. I just want to be in the team who I want, just want to be who I am, you know? How about the best hit you've ever put on anybody? Probably younger on the Olympics. What do you remember from that? I remember it was a kind of tie game and I think we it was tie and Simon felt on board.
Yeah, I go take a puck and I turn on the left side in the middle and I knew like he not going to give a pass and he's trying going to make a move on me. And soon as I see he going left and I'm already was ready to hit him and he's just go left and right and I just kill him. It was the probably the best hit in my life. Does does it hurt when you lay a great hit on somebody? If you make a great hit, it's not hurt, but sometimes you get
a hit and it starts soaring. Your body, your shoulder, your muscles feel it. So you hit him and what do you see afterwards? What's your reaction? We scored a goal. That's the biggest thing about that hit mark can score a goal. And after that on the bench, coach came to me and said just be careful because they try. They're gonna probably gonna watch you, gonna try to hit you more. So OK, I'm ready. Then what happens? Nothing won the game.
Most painful hit you've been on the receiving end of? Was lots of hits on me. Obviously broken nose. Sometimes I just, you know, I hit my shoulder couple of times. I don't know. It was not that kind of big hit, big hits on me, but I was painful and I was hurt. When you're on the ice and you have the puck, what do you see? I can't tell you what I see. I just because in the ice it's happened so, so fast. You have to think so quick. You have to know where's your partner?
You have to know where's the we have to see what happened behind you, around you. And especially when you turn because you don't know you have a puck on this side and you don't know what happened on the left side. As soon as you turn, you can see it like I don't know who she Weber came to you and going to hit you. It's and you're probably going to be retired after that. So obviously I have to think, I obviously have to read the game
well and you have to hear more. What are you listening for? Just my partners because partners, the bench because the coaches see the game. The coaches help you a lot. Like what would they say, whether a partner or a coach or whoever? If I didn't, if I my back on a different side, on the eyes, they just say time or no time because we have a special language out there and when we know what's what's happening. When?
What's the special language? It's just a situation when the defenceman going to give you a pack on the half board and you look on the puck and you don't know what's happening on this side so they can tell you chip. So it's like chip on the board or you have a time so you have time to turn and see what happened. When you don't have the puck, the opposing team has it, but you're on the ice, what are you looking for? If it doesn't matter, it's it's
a matter what's position I play. If I'm on offensive zone, I try to read the read the player who can make a pass or who can make a bad decision so I can take the puck and go back to offensive zone. If I'm on defensive side, I I try to watch where's my my, my man and where's the puck? You were born in 1985, the year the Soviet Union began to collapse. How bad was crime and corruption
when you were growing up? I to be honest, I don't really remember the whole thing, but it was a very scary moment for the country. Again, it's that's what what happened with the Ukraine right now. What, if anything, do you remember from that period? Not much. Did your parents or you ever have conversations with your parents about? No, we we tried don't talk about it this.
I know it was hard, hard time for my parents because they have to find money for Dynamo team, basketball team, for families and all kind of stuff. But you know, it was history and history. Right there. I mean, there wasn't. People didn't have a lot of money. There was a decent amount of crime. Then what happened to, like the other people you went to high school with who you know, kind of came out during that time? On the high school or do you you
mean hockey school? Hockey school or, you know, just kids that you grew up with a. Couple players playing the KHL but nobody goes to play NHL in my age, 85. How have you seen the the country change big time of the years? Big time kind of change in a very good, very good side. We have how I said yesterday, we have everything what we need right now. In what ways have you seen it change?
Just how people are now leaves, you know, of course it's a right now it's a hard time because of the situation between two countries, but I'm pretty sure sooner or later everything is going to be fine. How much were you able to watch the NHL when you were growing up in Russia? Not much. I just have a videotape of highlights of the games, fights and goal scores and. Were were they current videotapes or were they? Oh, yeah, you can. You can buy back then you can
buy the videotapes. So my dad buy video game videotapes and we just sometimes watch together. And he told me, like, watch this one, try it tomorrow, do that kind of stuff. What what players did you look up to back then? Of course I was. My favorite player was All in all who played San Jose and he was physical. He can score goals and he can. He was a great leader. Obviously Mario Lamio, I think he was a one of the best player out there and Sergey Fredro.
When when you were growing up, when was the first time you realized you wanted to play in the NHL as. Soon as I start playing, like I knew, like this is going to be my life. Obviously you don't. You never know so. When you're like 7-8 years old, you're already thinking to yourself, you want to play pro hockey. Yeah, of course, because every little kid who play hockey he wants, they want to be a hockey
player. And myself, I was, I want to be a hockey player, but I didn't never know I can be in that kind of position, who I am right now. And I'm lucky. And of course it's a luck. Of course it's a work ethic. Of course it's just a situation. But it is what it is. And. Did did you ever have doubts? No. You, you always you had you believed in yourself that. Much They always believed myself. My family believed in myself. Everybody believed in myself, believed in me so.
When you were growing up, what would you say were your first 15 minutes of fame? The first time you got notoriety, exposure for your hockey talent? I always try listening to people around me, you know what they think I can do better, what they think my my strength is and. Obviously. I mean, was there a moment like the a play you made or a game that all of a sudden got? You know, written up in the paper, it's just a year by year.
You can, you can say like, OK, you scored 50 goals last year and you think like, OK, it's going to be easier next year because I scored 50 every year you have to improve yourself. And of course, some moment when you're a little kid and you understand you're better than mostly guys, of course you think, OK, I have a chance to be who I want to be. But you were living, yeah, I mean in a 2 bedroom apartment early on when you were growing up.
What do you recall from that? It was a great, great time. Obviously, everybody stayed together, everybody stayed close. The apartment was not that big, but it was good enough for five persons to stay together. And obviously it's my child time. How tight were things financially back then? I I was never think about something. If I wanted something, they always my parents always give it to me. And if it's I I knew like right now it was hard, especially when the new sticks come out.
I was crying to get a new stick and it was expensive and my dad like, OK, let's go buy it. And we went and we buy a, a stick and the next day I broke the stick and you know, like it's the $200 goes away. But back then it's $200. It was very expensive. So in the hockey equipment, like if something new come out, like we always buy it. We always, always have our best equipment and, and everybody have. And there wasn't a lot of money.
Your, I mean, mom obviously played professional basketball. Your dad was a pro soccer player. But his career ended early, Drove a taxi for a while. How do you think they handled, you know, being able to get you what you needed even though money was really tight? Obviously when they started understand my I can be a good player, hockey player, they put everything on my side and obviously without them, I'm probably not going to be here
talking to you. And I don't have the kind of popularity what I have right now because of the best case I have was up there in the market. I have the best sticks, helmet, everything. What I need, I always get so the time of the ice. My dad always have a good relationship with the coaches, with the if I need more practice and we always have ice to go somewhere and practice.
Because of my mom, I was Olympic champion and I was a superstar and she knows everybody on the hockey team of back then and USSR. We always have ice to go and skate with the professional hockey players, so everything kind of came together and that's why everything was, that's why we get success. Going through a time when there wasn't a lot of money, What do you think that taught you for later on in life when all of a sudden you had a lot of money?
It doesn't matter how much money you have, you have to stay in person, you know, because some people was not rich people and became rich people and they forget who they are, you know, and they try to show they have money, they have everything, you know, stupid decisions, stupid, stupid things. And I, I don't understand that, you know, it doesn't matter how much money you have, you have to stay a good person because if you're not a good person, nobody going to like you.
Your mom, two time Olympic gold medalist playing basketball, later president of the Moscow Dynamo women's basketball team. She was instrumental in negotiating your NHL contract. The richest in the sports history. Explain the role that she's played in your life. Well, it's all my family, my brother Michael and my dad and my mom give me that kind of positions position what what I have right now. I would say without them, I'm probably not going to sit here. I was.
Maybe I played somewhere, but not that level. So I wish everybody had that kind of parents to help the child to grow up and put them your your mind put in the right side. What do you think you most learned from them? Just to be honest and just to be yourself. In what ways, given your mom's background, do you think she's motivated you? Because she was the best basketball player on her position. Then she won everything with possibly can basket in basketball, but then it was not
the NBA. So I just want to be like her, you know, in the hockey. How hard was she on you when you were growing up? Not hard, obviously. My dad was who spent most of the time with me. My dad was almost my personal coach, you know? Really. Yeah, but. Like what would he do? He watched my practice every
day, every game. How do you think he helped you in the coaching way he. Helped me a lot obviously, because you know, when you're 15 or 14 to 16, you're mine because you're a teenager and you don't know what to do. You know, like you can see lots of people after practice go somewhere to movie or start start doing like different things outside of hockey. And my dad took me, put it in the car and drive me home. And you know it's. They kept you away from any sort of negative influences or
distractions. So how big do you think that was? It was big, obviously. I remember the time when I was in the school and I have friends there and we we always have like time to stay together after school and sit down. And after probably it was 15 years ago and after the school they go to the store, buy a beer. And I was like, OK, should I have a beer or not? And I just decided I don't need that kind of stuff right now. So I just. What made you decide that? Well, because I knew I have a
practice and after school. So again, everything what happened with me was kind of good scenario. So your parents really help you stay focused, instilled good values in you. And stay focused, be concentrated and all kind. Of stuff. And they're great. We were having a conversation with them out on the deck a few minutes ago, and I loved the story they were telling about why they don't sit together during games. You know, everybody comes up and
says hi to your dad. Your mom wants to stay focused, but your mom basketball wise really with life and athletically overcame the odds. You know, she was thought the doctor tells her she might have to get her leg amputated. She'd certainly never be able to play sports again. What did she tell you? And this is when she's like 7 years old. What she told you about what that time was like spending a year in the hospital.
It was hard. She was crying all the time and again, I don't know if I was in that kind of position. What's going to happen with me. But and but back then we don't have again. The world is changing. You know, the medical right now is different. Everything is different and but back then like she get lucky, she don't lose her leg and if she lose her leg, I don't know if I was here right now in this world. So and my dad to meet her and you know, so well, it was, it
was hard. My grandpa told me different stories, how tough was for my grandpa to get a job and all that kind of stuff. Why was it tough? Because because over the world after war, you know, it was everything was built, new buildings and it was kind of hard. How many surgeries did your mom have to have? Well, I don't, I don't know. What she told you about how she went about getting healthy
again. Well, because she have a goal to play basketball, she did it. What she told you about being part of that 76 Olympic team where they beat the US and win? Beyoncé, like me and her, never talk about Montreal or or Moscow. Why not? I don't know. We, I just know. I just knew like she's twice Olympic champion and that said
she never told me the story. And she of course we, we talk about the Olympic village, what's happening there, but we never talk about the game because she, she told me we was greatest team all of the time. Nobody can beat us. And I was OK, that's good enough. What? What would she tell you about when you were a kid? We talk about how hard practice I have to do, I have to be focused and all that kind of stuff and about America and about basketball.
Back then there was not good basketball team in America and that's that's why I remember what she told me. It was a more European challenge. Your older brother passed away when he was 25. You were 10 years old, unexpectedly due to a blood clot. He was, as I understand it, one of the people who really encouraged you to get into hockey. How proud do you think he'd be of you? All the success you've had in the game. I'm pretty sure he's he's
probably me right now. Look at me from upstairs. But again, if that kind of situation happened, if he will be right now, I don't know if he was going to be a hockey player or not. So I don't know what's what's going to happen. If he's be alive, maybe I would know the hockey player. Do you ever wonder if he would have been a hockey player? Yeah, but but then again, I was 10 and more care, my career just started so.
Why did you decide to get the tattoo and why do you after you score a goal point up to the sky? This is just a situation when I always appreciate what you did to me and for my family so. The one moment I wanted to ask you about that after he passed away. Next day, your parents make you play in the hockey game. Yeah. Why do they why did they do that? And how hard was that for you at the time? Yeah, it was hard. I was crying. I remember I was crying that day. I was in the bench, I was
crying. But my shift, my coach said OK, go play and play and I was crying. It was, it was hard. But in 1010 years old, obviously you're not realized what's happening. But it was a hard moment for my mom and dad, my all, for all my family because, you know, all the son passed away and it was a hard time. Looking back, how do you think it affected you growing up without your older brother?
It's motivates me to be more. I don't know how to say, be more in the right way than on the bad way, you know? In what ways? Because only me and Michael stays and with my family, with my parents. And I knew like somebody have to take care of my parents in the future and it doesn't matter. It's going to be hockey or something. I have to be successful.
And Speaking of being proud of you, I don't think anybody could be prouder of you when you're, you know, in the Olympics, the the face of the country's national hockey program. What do the Olympics mean to you? It's probably biggest, biggest moment in my life. I've been in three Olympic Games and it's it was great. It was great. Obviously we don't get a medal, we don't get a gold, but I'm pretty sure we still have a time to get a gold, maybe one or two Olympic Games more.
Sochi Olympics 2014, you are one of the ambassadors. What did that entail? I represent my country again, my people who lives in Russia, President, family, you know, it's it was huge honor for me to be in that kind of category. What was that like for your family? They. I mean have their son. In the. Face of the really the face of the Olympics? They was proud, they was very happy for me and I can again, everything will happen in Sochi.
Good ways or bad ways is history and my name on the history, and I'm very, very excited and very happy. How tough was losing in the quarterfinals? Losing always tough, it doesn't matter where you lose obviously in the Olympic Games, you don't have mistakes to lose a game. And if we if that goal was count against US, maybe this scenario will be different. But we lost in the shootouts and then we go play against Finland and we lost Finland 40.
What was your reaction when the head coach calls you out after that game? No reaction. Obviously Joe was upset. Everybody was upset. So I mean surprised though. No. Someone close to you told me those games just kind of scarred you. What do you think?
Yeah, of course, you know, especially when you when it's so bad and you don't get it and you know, like next, next chance you have after four years, you have to wait four years more to get another chance to play for gold medal or get any medal. And it's it's very sad and you need time to just let it go. Really. Yeah. I mean, does that like emotionally?
Yeah, emotionally, physically, because again, when you have Olympic Games during the year, you prepare yourself differently during the summer or during the season. And it's unlike some sports where it's in the offseason, you know, basketball, for example, it's over their summer for the NHL or for hockey players, it's right in the, you know, the middle of your season. How much are you looking forward
to the next games? When you get success in a game, you don't want to stop playing, you know, it's any sports. I think you just want to keep going and keep going because you know, like lucky side and everything on your side. But if you're don't have a lock, you just want to stop playing and move forward. And I'm looking forward to the next Olympic Games and I'm pretty sure it's going to be different for us. Sidney Crosby, How competitive are the two of you with each other?
He's one of the best player right now in the world. Obviously, again, that comparison, what was our first years was great for fans, was great for media. But right now it's different players came to the league and it's still a little bit, you know, challenging. It's still a little bit, I don't know how it's said a little bit more, but it's not like first two years. Right. I was going to ask how much is there actually a rivalry and how much of that sort of
manufactured by the media? Right now it's not not that kind of big, but the first two years, of course you people play against Pittsburgh, you know, like especially first year because you play for color trophy. You know who's the best rockey of the year and you try to show up all your best things. And that was great moments. And again, you can ask him too, like probably he's going to say the same. Was a great series between US and the playoffs when they won and they won the Stanley Cup.
What do you think of him those first two years? How I said he was. I mean, I mean, I know you guys, you get along fine now, but those first two years, did you kind of not like him? Not like, no, like a player, like a person I didn't even know how. Who is he? You know, like in the person. But on the ice, I know he can do everything out there and you
have to be ready for everything. If you're the commissioner of the NHL, what changes would, Well, I mean, hockey is not as popular as a sport as it once was. If you're the commissioner or just as the star player making the recommendations, what suggestions would you have for changes or improvements to the game? Ask him about it. Yeah, I don't want to start this conversation. OK. So I mean you have strong opinions on it? Yeah, but whatever. Well, I mean, what about just,
you know, positive? I mean, so not taking shots at the commissioner or the league, just things from your experience that you think could help? Again, the rules, our rules and we just only can accept it. Obviously if they it's, it's good thing what we have NHLPA and if something that's going to happen, we always can decide yes or no. But most of the time, if they decided they're going to change it, So what we can do? It it bothers you a lot. For me it doesn't matter. You know, like.
All right, some random topics with you and actually the remaining moments, the the first one being, you know, we were talking up there a little bit ago about, you know, not having the tooth and wanting to put it in later or you know, after your career is over, how many times have you been hit in the face with the fuck? With a puck a couple times, but it's OK, It's it's OK. You know nothing can do with it. Is it more of the puck that does the damage or when you get hit
with the stick? Both puck and stick. Very painful. How many times have you been hit with the stick? Couple times I have a scarf all over my face so it's OK. What's more painful between the two? First couple minutes you don't feel the pain, you just feel how blood goes down to your skin and after that you feel very painful. How many surgeries have you had that no surgeries? What about stitches? I don't know that lot really. Yeah. Where?
All over my body. I would like name as many as you can think of. Maybe 100 stitches, maybe all over my body. You think whether it's you know from getting hit in the face with the puck or your very physical style of play, to what extent do you have any concern of any kind of lasting impact negatively that you're playing days will have on just your quality of life after you're done playing? Well, of course my body going to
be sore. Any athletes who's finished up their professional careers, of course your knees going to sore, your shoulders, your everything's going to be sore. But that's why you have to finish career when you know it's a time to finish, because your body can tell you it's enough or not. At night, at right after a game or the next morning when you wake up, how does your body feel? Great.
It's the next day. I'm still I can't walk, I can skate, so let's go. Charity that I know, to my surprise, you really kind of don't like talking about it that much, the positive things you're doing. But in reality, you know, it only helps in bringing exposure to it, which is a good thing. I know you do work with orphanages around Russia. How did that come about? Well, if you have a chance to help the people, you have to because I said you lucky person, you have everything.
So you have to share something with the people, kids who don't have it. What made you decide on orphanages? Everything, everybody. You know the it's how to say it doesn't matter what's position the people are. If you have a chance to help, why not? What got you involved in it? Since my first year we decided to do some charity stuff, so 10 years in a row we still do some stuff. So what? What do you do?
Again, in Russia we help kids who don't have money to buy equipment, we give them equipment. In the US we do different stuff. Give a family don't don't have a chance to go to the hockey game, we give them a chance tickets to the game. Last year we give up an All Star game car, you know. That's cool. Yeah. So all the little, little things, but we always can do that kind of stuff. Even though you're the one that's giving back, sometimes it's more rewarding to the person actually doing the
giving. In other words, you. Out of everything you've done over the years charity wise, what's kind of touched you the most? What's been the kind of coolest experience? When the people smile to your face that's and you can see it's not like you know it's open smile. You know they happy and they always going to remember it for a whole life. Thank you very much.
Thanks. That does it for my chat with Alex Ovechkin. To check out a tour of Ovechkin's family estate in the Russian countryside, head over to youtube.com/graham Bensinger. And we jumped into his freezing pond. Where I convinced. Alex to go. First out of. Fear maybe he wouldn't end up jumping. We also chatted with his parents, even getting a cameo from his camera shy grandmother. If you get a chance, give us a rating and review. Thanks again for listening.