Wednesday’s practice at the MedStar Capitals Iceplex might have been the loudest in team history, with more than 1,000 fans gathered to celebrate Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s new goal-scoring king.
It was only a preview for the grander celebrations planned for Thursday’s game at Capital One Arena.
The Capitals invited 895 elementary schoolers to the practice — one for every Ovechkin goal — to honor Washington’s captain. Dozens of other fans joined them.
Washington’s 39-year-old captain passed Wayne Gretzky for the NHL all-time goals record during Sunday’s game against the New York Islanders.
The celebrations haven’t stopped.
After a team-only party on Sunday, a day off on Monday and an optional practice on Tuesday, Wednesday’s open practice was the first chance for fans in the D.C. area to honor Ovechkin’s record in his presence.
They let him hear it.
“It was loud for sure,” said Dylan Strome, who assisted on the record-breaker. “I’m not surprised because of how much Ovi means to this place. It’s just a testament to him and what he’s done for this long in D.C.”
Fans screeched as Ovechkin took the ice, many of them holding homemade signs marking his achievement.
“Gr8ness,” one read.
“895!” another simply proclaimed.
Ovechkin has heard his share of ovations, from milestone goals to playoff victories. This one — at a practice that started at 10:30 a.m. on a Wednesday — stood out. Ovechkin is known throughout the region for his celebrations, but even he was astounded.
“Crazy, fun. It’s an [enjoyable] time right now,” said Ovechkin, who ended the practice with the same belly-flopping slide he used to celebrate the record on Sunday. “They tell me the kids want to see it. It’s a great memory.”
While Ovechkin gave the visitors what they came to see, many fans wanted to pay their respects.
“It was just crazy,” Capitals supporter Lindsay Baugh said of the record and the subsequent reactions. “It was like when they won the Stanley Cup. You’re still seeing posts now three days later.
Baugh attended Wednesday’s practice along with legions of other visitors rocking red jerseys. They cheered, hoped for autographs and shared stories about where they were when Ovechkin made history.
Baugh was at a bar in Charlottesville, Virginia. Her friend Cheryl Anne Forster, who was also at the practice, was at the grocery store watching from her phone.
“It’s so much fun just to watch these guys,” Forster said, noting the close-knit nature of the current squad. “You can’t buy that.”
Almost 72 hours removed from a moment they’ll never forget, Capitals players said they were floored by the fans’ warm reaction.
“It was cool out there to see all the kids because of what he’s done for the area. [Ovechkin] truly changed the game in the DMV area,” Capitals forward Tom Wilson said. “I’m assuming some of those kids might be in the NHL one day.”
Those future NHLers were loud enough to disrupt the final two practice drills on Wednesday, according to coach Spencer Carbery. Ovechkin and company were struggling with communication amid the deafening roar of grateful fans.
“I gave them a pass on that,” Carbery said.
The ear-splitting screams from a legion of elementary schoolers were just a prelude for Thursday’s festivities, when the Capitals return to home ice for the first time since the record-breaker. A sold-out crowd is expected against the Carolina Hurricanes as the Washington faithful welcome Ovechkin back to home ice.
Fans are invited to a pre-game ceremony that will honor Ovechkin alongside his wife, Nastya, and their sons, Sergei and Ilya.
Ted Leonsis, who owns the Capitals, has said he’ll present a “special gift” to Ovechkin before the game.
The team hasn’t said whether Leonsis plans to outdo the Rolls Royce that the Los Angeles Kings presented to Gretzky when he set the record in 1994.
“You got your work cut out,” Gretzky advised Leonsis during an on-ice ceremony during Sunday’s game.
Players and coaches are expecting a raucous crowd in Chinatown throughout Thursday’s game and ceremony.
“It’s going to be a crazy atmosphere,” Ovechkin said.
The hometown crowd exploded on Friday night against the Chicago Blackhawks when Ovechkin scored a pair of goals to tie Gretzky. Carbery expects more of the same on Thursday.
“Just an appreciation — some of what you saw here today of people and our fan base and the community acknowledging what an amazing achievement and wanting to celebrate that and show him how much that record has had an impact on this whole community,” Carbery said Wednesday. “And they deserve that.”
The Eastern Conference-leading Capitals have five games remaining in the regular season. The postseason begins April 19.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.