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Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin raises his arms after scoring a goal. Ovechkin is a long-time supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. AP FILE
The soon-to-be greatest goal scorer in hockey history will pass through Winnipeg on Tuesday, carrying with him enough baggage to fill the entire belly of his team’s charter aircraft.
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Alex Ovechkin will lead his Washington Capitals onto the ice against the Jets needing just seven more goals to push aside Wayne Gretzky at the top of the mountain.
For many in Winnipeg, his appearance will feel more like the eruption of a volcano.
“Mentioning his name, for me, just brings negative notes, negative thoughts and negative pictures,” Valerii Pasko was saying on Monday. “If I go to the game I would definitely not cheer for him in the stands. Obviously we always support Ukraine. I can’t accept his position on this.”
Pasko is a Ukrainian immigrant and hockey fan. As part of the group Canadian Friends of Hockey In Ukraine, he’s helped organize charity events and the donation of hockey gear for kids back in his home country.
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Stressing he was sharing his personal opinion on Ovechkin and the NHL and not as the spokesperson for CFHU, Pasko’s feelings stem from Ovechkin’s proud and continuing support of Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Ovechkin has refused to remove photos of Putin from his Instagram page and has been unapologetic of his support for the dictator, even since the invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
Winnipeg’s Ukrainian population was already more than 100,000 at the time and has only swelled, since.
Its relationship with the Jets has been strong, highlighted by the annual Ukrainian Heritage Night celebration and appearances by the Hoosli Choir to sing the national anthems for a few games every season.
Hoosli is not singing the anthems on Tuesday, although an online petition called for the Jets to bring them in as a counter to the hype machine that follows Ovechkin around.
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That hype machine is designed to draw in every sportswriter and hockey broadcaster who crosses No. 8’s path in his pursuit of the record.
Its gears don’t leave room for nuance. Hell, they don’t even leave room for the entire truth. They just spit out the numbers and the platitudes with clear instructions: Celebrate the player, but don’t dare touch on the person.
A younger me may have been drawn in by the machine. A younger me may have agreed to keep a wall between sports and politics.
But an older me recognizes this isn’t just politics. It’s far beyond that. It’s invasion. It’s mass murder. It’s dictatorial. And its tentacles are drawing nearer, making inroads in North America.
Some in the hockey world, like former NHLer and adopted Winnipegger Wayne Babych, straddle the line a little better than I can.
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Babych is of Ukrainian heritage, too, and has done considerable work with CFHU. He’s also a one-time 50-goal scorer who marvels at Ovechkin accomplishing what was once the unthinkable.
“It’s a great feat,” Babych said. “Half of Winnipeg is either Ukrainian or wanna-be Ukrainian. A lot to do with the food. It’s a sad thing. Really sad that we can’t celebrate. Because he’s Russian.
“He’s going to break a Ukrainian’s record.”
Gretzky was Babych’s Team Canada centre at the 1978 world junior championship. Mario Lemieux was his centre for a time in the NHL. He knows greatness when he sees it.
So part of him wants to cheer for it. Part of him wants to think Ovechkin isn’t as pro-Putin as he seems, that he’s simply afraid to speak out because he still has family in Russia.
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A better part of him has a good idea how Winnipeggers will react on Tuesday night.
“Before the war people wanted to go see him play,” Babych said. “I imagine every time he touches the puck he’s probably going to get booed. Because of the war. I don’t think it has anything to do with the hockey player. It’s really sad. For any other player this is quite an accomplishment.
“People have big hearts. I have a big heart, too. It’s torn.”
Russia’s invasion caused Babych to cancel a trip to bring kids hockey equipment to Ukraine. So instead of handshakes and hugs on the ground there, he was getting text messages from people he knew who were suddenly at war.
Ihor Barwinsky, another volunteer with CFHU, says those are the people he celebrates.
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“They’re willing to sacrifice themselves and their property… by staying there and putting up a fight,” Barwinsky said. “And then we see someone come over here and literally ignore people’s sacrifices or ignore the fact that this person’s leadership and organization is inflicting these wounds… and saying, ‘Hey, Putin’s a great guy.’ That really ticks me off.”
Barwinsky predicts a few blue and yellow flags in the crowd on Tuesday. And very little cheering for the next goal on the road to hockey history.
“He’s probably not going to get a warm welcome.”
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