Alex Ovechkin laced his skates up Sunday to play in the annual “Match of the Year,” a charity event organized by Artemi Panarin and Mikhail Sergachev that pits Russian NHL stars against KHL stars.
Ahead of the game at CSKA Arena in Moscow, Ovechkin was honored for breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record this past NHL season. After both teams took the ice, Ovechkin received his own personal introduction as highlights from his days with the KHL’s Dynamo Moscow and goals with the Washington Capitals played around the arena.
Ovechkin scored career goal number 895 to surpass Gretzky against the New York Islanders on April 6.
Ovechkin jumped on the ice, waving and applauding the crowd, and then gave fist bumps to all of the players on both benches.
The organizers of the event also gifted the 39-year-old legendary winger a new car. Ovechkin was presented with his new wheels, which appear to be a Jetour T2 4×4 Premium SUV, after it was driven out onto the ice.
Ovechkin has been gifted a car before, when back in his homeland, receiving a Lada Niva Travel at the KHL’s end-of-season award show in 2023. The Great 8, who once had a collection of seven cars, has previously admitted that his main hobby is collecting cars.
“[It’s my] main hobby, my dream, and there is nothing I can do about it,” Ovechkin said in 2013. “The more [cars] the better, but in fact my parents already tell me: ‘Sasha, why do you need so many?’”
Ovechkin also famously campaigned for another free car at the 2015 NHL All-Star Game. During the draft of players for the two All-Star teams, the last pick would be awarded a sympathy car, but despite his pleas, Ovechkin was drafted by Patrick Kane third from last.
After All-Star weekend concluded, Honda still presented Ovechkin with a 2015 Honda Accord, which he then donated to Ann Schaab and the Washington Ice Dogs of the American Special Hockey Association.
