Capitals’ Ovechkin surprises fans who drink beer every week in his honor
Alex Ovechkin has many accomplishments on his resume. You can add “man of the people” to that list.
Earlier this week, a translated video from Russia showed a group of hockey fans who gathered every Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m. at a pub in Moscow, hoping the Washington Capitals’ captain would show up for a beer.
In the video, one person said it was the seventh week they attempted this, and that the regulars who had shown up had become friendly with one another.
After thinking he wouldn’t arrive for another week, fans started murmuring “he’s coming, he’s coming!” and before you know it, Ovechkin arrived, with attendees chanting “Ovi the great! Ovi the great!”
As he shook hands with everyone, someone handed him a beer, to which he replied: “Awesome!” He cheers his glass with fans and signed autographs, staying to chat while sipping his pint.
Ovechkin, 40, signed a one-year deal with a cap hit of $4.25 million to return to the Capitals in 2026-27. It will be his 22nd NHL season.
In 2025-26, Ovechkin scored 32 goals and recorded 32 assists for 64 points in 82 games. He became the fourth player in NHL history to score 30 goals in a season at or after the age of 40. It was also the 20th 30-goal season of Ovechkin’s career, a record in itself.
He failed to reach 30 goals in a season just once: he scored 24 goals in 45 games during the COVID-19 shortened 2020-21 campaign.
Through 21 NHL seasons, the Moscow native has 929 goals and 758 assists for 1,687 points in 1,573 career regular-season games. In 2024-25, he passed Wayne Gretzky for the most regular-season goals in NHL history.
Ovechkin also has 77 goals and 70 assists for 144 points in 161 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Through 21 NHL seasons, Ovechkin has recorded nine 50-goal campaigns and has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy nine times, awarded to the player with the most goals during an NHL regular season. Ovechkin has also won the Hart Trophy three times, awarded to the league’s most valuable player.
Ovechkin also has the most power-play goals in NHL history with 331.
Among other notable honors, Ovechkin won the 2006 Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie, and led the league with 110 points in 2007-08 – the only Art Ross Trophy of his career. He took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP en route to his only Stanley Cup in 2018.
Internationally, Ovechkin has won the World Championship three times and has broken multiple records at various junior international tournaments with Russia.