Vladimir Putin congratulates Alex Ovechkin for the “exceptional” NHL goals

MOSCOW (AP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Alex Ovechkin for having established an “exceptional record” as all the NHL times top scorer.

In a message after Ovechkin’s 895th goal in career broke equality for the record with Wayne Gretzky In Washington’s capital match on Sunday against the New York Islanders, Putin said that the realization was something that the Russians would celebrate.

“I congratulate you on your exceptional record. You have exceeded legendary masters in the number of goals scored in the matches of the regular season of the National League,” Putin said in a statement published on Monday by the Kremlin.

Breaking the Gretzky record “has become not only your personal success, but also a real celebration for fans in Russia and abroad,” added Putin. “I wish you health, good fortune (and) the spirit of combat to conquer new heights in life and in sports.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Putin and Ovechkin had not yet spoken by phone, but that Putin’s message from Congratulations showed the president “the strong values ​​of Ovechkin’s sporting result”.

Ovechkin was a donor in Putin in the past and in 2017 created a group called Putin team On social networks to show his support for the Russian president, who was re -elected the following year.

At the time, Ovechkin said The Associated Press and the Washington Post, “I just support my country” and I said: “These are not political things.”

Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryev refers to this time in his own declaration of congratulations after Ovechkin broke the record on Sunday.

He posted on social networks that Ovechkin “remains a member of the Putin team and at the same time one of the main faces of world hockey, a favorite of millions and the NHL top scorer.”