Washington Declares Alexander Ovechkin Day – a Hockey Player Who Openly Supports Putin.

The city of Washington has established a celebration for Alexander Ovechkin Day. This decision was made by Mayor Muriel Bowser. This celebration is dedicated to the achievements of the Russian hockey player who has become the highest scorer in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Thank you, @MayorBowser, for helping to make 'Alex Ovechkin Day' a city-wide celebration this past Friday!#Gr8ness pic.twitter.com/a9uX60BMJh

— z - Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 15, 2025

Ovechkin is known for his open support of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He created the 'Putin Team' movement to support Putin ahead of the presidential elections in 2017.

For a long Time, there was a photo with Putin on his social media page on Instagram. Even after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Ovechkin did not delete this photo and explained this as a concern for his family's safety. Also, U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated Ovechkin on his achievement.

The discussion about Ovechkin, his support for Putin, and his attitude towards him also involves the goalkeeper of the Ukrainian national hockey team, Eduard Zakharchenko. Zakharchenko expressed negative opinions about Ovechkin, considering him unfair, and expressed a wish for him to get injured or not achieve new accomplishments. Zakharchenko believes that Ovechkin does not deserve such popularity.

Analysis:

Aleksandr Ovechkin, the Russian hockey player, is not only a successful athlete but also a well-known personality in the world. His active support for Russian President Vladimir Putin has always been a subject of discussion and criticism. The celebration of Alexander Ovechkin Day has elicited both positive and negative reactions in society.