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Alex Ovechkin announces the death of his father, Mikhail, at 71
Alex Ovechkin will be out of the Capitals lineup for the "foreseeable future" as he mourns the death of his father.
Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin took to Instagram Wednesday to announce the death of his father. Mikhail Ovechkin was 71.
“Today I lost my father,” Ovechkin's post reads. “I thank everyone for the support but please be understanding and do not disturb my family in this difficult time for us! Thank you.”
Popular Capitals blog Russian Machine Never Breaks on Tuesday shared some background on the heart and health issues Mikhail has been dealing with since 2014:
Mikhail has had a history of heart issues. Two days before the 2016 playoffs began, Mikhail suffered a heart attack, causing the family to call for an ambulance. The now 71-year-old also had heart surgery done in February of 2014. Tatyana Ovechkina has said in past interviews that Mikhail can no longer travel large distances and attend Ovi’s games in the United States due to his "declining health."
Ovechkin has always held a special bond with his father, who called his son being drafted No. 1 overall by the Capitals in 2004 his "most pleasant moment," according to RMNB. Ovechkin also honoured his father during a soccer game with Dynamo Moscow last summer, sporting the "No. 3" Mikhail wore throughout his professional soccer career.
Mikhail Ovechkin was unable to travel to see the Capitals win the Stanley Cup in 2018 because of health reasons. This is the moment that summer when Alex brought the Cup to him at Dynamo Moscow’s training facility. As Mikhail said that day “Huge happiness.” pic.twitter.com/bdi4U2wDgc
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) February 15, 2023
There has been no timeframe given for Ovechkin's return.
Ovi left the team Tuesday to attend to a "family matter"
On Tuesday, the team announced that Ovechkin would be taking some time away from the team to "attend to a family matter and the health of a loved one." Russian outlet Match TV reported that Mikhail required “urgent hospitalization” after falling ill, adding that the Capitals captain was returning to Moscow.
Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette does not expect Ovechkin to be available for the rest of this week, and says the three-time Hart Trophy winner will be out for the "foreseeable future," per Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press. Washington hosts the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday and the Florida Panthers on Thursday before an outdoor road matchup with the Hurricanes on Saturday as part of the NHL’s Stadium Series.
On the ice, Ovechkin has been enjoying another terrific season in 2022-23. The 37-year-old has 32 goals and 54 points in 54 games and continues to chase Wayne Gretzky for the NHL's all-time goal-scoring record. Ovechkin currently sits at 812 goals, just 82 behind Gretzky's 894.
Ovechkin made his ninth All-Star Game appearance earlier this month and won the Breakaway Challenge at the skills competition alongside his son, Sergei, and Sidney Crosby.
The Capitals currently occupy the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 62 points, but their grip on a playoff spot is tenuous as the Panthers and New York Islanders are each on the outside with 60 points.
Forward Joe Snively was called up from the AHL's Hershey Bears to take Ovechkin's spot on the roster.
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