Los Angeles: Russian star Alex Ovechkin said Tuesday he will play in next year’s Winter Olympics despite the NHL’s decision not to participate in the Games.
The NHL announced on Monday that it would not restructure its season to accommodate the Winter Olympics, effectively ruling the league’s stars out of the Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Washington Capitals ace Ovechkin — one of more than 30 Russians who play in the NHL — said he was determined to represent his country in Pyeongchang.
“I didn’t change my mind and I won’t,” Ovechkin told reporters Tuesday.
“Because it’s my country. I think everybody wants to play there. It’s the biggest opportunity in your life to play in the Olympic Games. So, I don’t know, somebody (is) going to tell me ‘don’t go,’ I don’t care, I just go.”
Ovechkin’s decision to put country before club puts the Russian star on a potential collision course with league chiefs.
Capitals owner Ted Leonsis however said last year he would back Ovechkin in any dispute over the Olympics.
“If Alex Ovechkin says, ‘This is really important to me to go represent and play for my country,’ I’m going to support him,” Leonsis said. “What’s the worst that could happen? We’ll get fined or something.”
Ovechkin meanwhile said he was optimistic that a compromise between the NHL and Olympic chiefs could be brokered.
“Right now, it’s still time to make a decision; you can say whatever, but next year’s schedule is not out yet,” Ovechkin said.
“So if the schedule is not going to the Olympic Games, then you can see they don’t bluff. But again, still long time, still everything can change.”
Ovechkin’s teammate and compatriot Evgeny Kuznetsov also said he would play the Olympics if selected.
“I still hope the NHL will let us play,” he said. “But nothing is going to change my point of view ... if Russia needs us, of course.”
Capitals defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk, who played for the USA at the 2014 Games, was also critical of the NHL move.
“I think we deserve to go and the world deserves to see hockey at that level,” he said. “I don’t see why we wouldn’t do it.”
— AFP
