Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin stood by his participation in a video for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s political party, and said he will live in his home country, Russia, when he is done playing.
asserted
he → stand → country
“I want the peace and love for everybody,” Ovechkin told ESPN Thursday during Washington’s media day at their training facility.
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Ovechkin → want → facility
“It doesn’t matter who you are, American, Russian or Ukrainian.
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you → matter → ?
I hope everything’s gonna be good and everything’s gonna be done soon.”
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everything → hope → ?
When asked about Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Ovechkin said: “I’m not in politics.
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I → ask → politics
I can’t say who’s right and who’s wrong.”
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who → say → ?
Ovechkin, who said he is not “not pro-war,” explained that he only supports “what’s happening in Russia” and he hopes the war will “be done soon.”
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war → say → Russia
The 41-year-old appeared among other Russian celebrities in a video in support of United Russia, a group backing the regime of Putin.
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old → appear → Putin
In the campaign video, Ovechkin stands with supporters of Putin’s United Russia political party as Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov delivers a monologue warning anyone who comes at Russia “with a sword” to “expect no mercy: we will rise together, as we do today,” according to ESPN.
uncertain
we → stand → ESPN
Ovechkin told the outlet that he filmed the ad three weeks ago — and did not inform the Capitals that he was doing so before signing a one-year extension in July.
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he → tell → July
“The thing about video: I’m Russian,” Ovechkin told reporters on Thursday.
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Ovechkin → ’m → Thursday
“As soon as I’m done playing hockey, I’m probably going to stay there.
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I → do → hockey
I’m going to live there.
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I → go → ?
My kids are going to be there, family.
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kids → go → ?
So I’m full of peace and love, and I hope everything’s going to be OK.”
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everything → ’m → peace
Ovechkin shut down questions about the ad when a reporter asked why he participated in it.
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he → shut → it
“As I said, I’m Russian and I support my country,” Ovechkin said.
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Ovechkin → say → country
“So as I said, I’m for peace and love, and I hope, in the world, it doesn’t matter who you are.
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you → say → world
I hope everybody understands everybody wants peace, and I hope everything is going to be OK.
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everything → hope → peace
All right, let’s do hockey questions.”
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’s → let → questions
Ovechkin said he had not received backlash over his participation in the campaign video.
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he → say → video
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., asked the league consider banning Ovechkin over his participation in the ad in a letter to the NHL this week, also addressed to Capitals owner Ted Leonsis.
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league → ask → Leonsis
Capitals coach Spencer Carbery explained that he was not affected by the ad, and didn’t think it would be an issue for the coaching staff or roster.
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it → explain → staff
“Not for me,” Carbery said.
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Carbery → say → me
“I mean, I know ‘O’ as good as anybody inside this organization, and I know his family and what he’s all about.
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he → mean → what
“I haven’t seen the video or whatever, but I know this: ‘O’ has done an amazing job in my time here.
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O → see → time
I love him.
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I → love → him
I love his family.
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I → love → family
He’s a big part of our team, and I think him being our captain and the relationship that I have with him as a coach here — yeah, it doesn’t affect me.
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it → ’ → me
The Capitals declined to answer questions regarding the ad and declined to make Leonsis available for comment, ESPN said.
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ESPN → decline → comment
In a statement this week, the Capitals said: “Alex Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and will live there following his retirement.
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who → say → retirement
“As the longest-tenured athlete in Washington, D.C., and a pillar of the community, his focus and ours is on the season ahead and the continued impact he makes on the ice and in our city.”
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he → tenure → city
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