After breaking the NHL goals record earlier this year, Alex Ovechkin is one of the most recognizable hockey players in the world.
With all that fame comes money and power, but also a lot of attention where almost everywhere Ovechkin goes, he’s likely to be recognized by someone who could want a photo or autograph. According to Ovechkin, he doesn’t mind this attention, as he felt the same way as a kid when he ran into someone famous.
Ovechkin made the comments on July 19 as he attended the opening of a Moscow hockey rink where he used to play as a kid.
Per Sports.ru and a translation by Google Translate:
Q. There were a lot of people around you today. When was the last time you had the opportunity to just go somewhere alone? Even to the store.
Alex Ovechkin: Every day. Many people recognize me, of course, but all people are adequate and understand that freedom and personal space are needed.
Q. How do you react to attention and the desire to have your photo taken with?
Alex Ovechkin: Positively. I was also a boy and if I saw some legend, I also wanted to take a photo. I understand that now it was probably to his detriment, now I felt the same.
Q. Which legend would you like to take a photo with when you were a boy?
Alex Ovechkin: I took pictures with whoever I wanted. (Slava) Fetisov, (Maxim) Afinogenov, (Igor) Larionov. There were a lot of guys who were stars, and when you see them, of course you want to get an autograph and take a picture.
Q. When was the last time you played on the court that was opened today after reconstruction?
Alex Ovechkin: It was a long time ago, when I was in school.
Ovechkin signed autographs for fans at the Moscow event and also received a celebratory ring for breaking the NHL goals record. The rink design features a graphic of Ovechkin in a red jersey raising his arms with the number 895 above his head.
Recently, Ovechkin made fans happy while participating at the “Match of the Year” when he went over to a parking lot full of people and signed autographs for as many people as he could.
Over the years, Ovechkin has been documented making time for his supporters when they’ve run into him both at likely and unlikely places.
