Photo courtesy of Jack Lima
LAS VEGAS, NV – Alex Ovechkin’s hockey career now echoes the immortal words of Etta James, and he joins Ray Bourque and Dominique Hasek in the ranks of players whose long Stanley Cup pursuit finally came to a fruitful end.
When Ovechkin hoisted the trophy on Thursday night in T Mobile Arena, he added the final piece needed to complete the picture of a legacy 32 years in the making. And nobody could deserve it more.
To add insult to the injury of such a long wait, Ovechkin has been described by some critics as a playoff choker, an absurd label when you consider his post-season scoring averages were higher than his regular season in both the 2016 and 2017 playoffs. Indeed, he has always posted impressive postseason numbers. He has always played with that extra amount of heart. The efforts have just previously fallen short of netting a championship.
But no more.
Pro Hockey News had the privilege to be on hand at the 2017 All Star Game in Tampa to speak with Ovechkin in the locker room.
The word “Humility” on the wall is a fitting and ironic tribute. Nothing could be more appropriate to have inadvertently displayed in the background of an athlete who is noted for taking more delight in seeing his teammates score than in his own accomplishments. “I just wanted to do anything I could to see my team win,” he was quoted Thursday night.
What is probably the secret thought of every hockey fan is that Thursday night was one of those times that you’re glad the good guy finally got what he deserved. Even if you were pulling for Vegas, you just know it was the Capitals’ moment. This was the 2016 World Series replayed on the ice. The Caps wanted it more. Ovechkin wanted it more.  And in the same fashion the Cubs won the nation’s heart that year, this first ever Capitals’ win reminds us that sometimes faith and hard work actually pay off. It affirms that we can brush off the criticism when it seems like we’re doing the best job we can do, that we are all somehow safer knowing there is justice in our determination, and that our dreams really can come true, no matter how long we have to wait for it.
Photo courtesy of Jack Lima
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