Famous Soviet and Russian hockey player, two-time Olympic champion Alexander Kozhevnikov said that the early induction of Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada should serve as an example to European sports officials. In a comment to socialbites.ca, he emphasized that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and European hockey leagues are committing sports genocide by oppressing Russian athletes, calling them subhumans.
“[Включение Овечкина в Зал хоккейной славы] It proves once again that sports are beyond politics. This should be an example for Europeans, non-humans who equate sports with genocide. What European hockey leagues are doing is sports genocide. And the IOC is dealing with this nonsense. Canadians are showing that what matters most to them is the person and the athlete. They don’t care what nationality he is. He’s great; That means it’s great. This is an example for Europe, that’s all,” Kozhevnikov said.
The ESPN portal considers Ovechkin one of two current players who can become members of the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto immediately after the end of their professional careers; the other is Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby.
Wayne Gretzky played his last game in the league in 1999, and it was announced that he would become the 10th player in NHL history to be inducted into the Hall of Fame without waiting three years after his retirement. The Select Committee decided that the three-year waiting period would only be waived “in certain circumstances”.
Ovechkin, 38, now has 826 goals in the NHL regular championship; According to this indicator, the Washington captain ranks second after Canadian Wayne Gretzky, who has 894 goals. Ovechkin has 68 goals left to reach his record.
In this NHL season, Ovechkin appeared in 14 games and managed to score four goals and make seven assists.
Previously Kozhevnikov statedthat now includes Ovechkin in the Hall of Fame.