Stormy ovation: Russian stars congratulated Ovechkin

Everyone who knows the record holder and loves hockey hastened to congratulate Alexander Ovechkin. The 895th puck made Alexander the Greatest. This fact amazes not only fans, but also friends of the hockey player. Nikolai Tsiskaridze compared Ovechkin's achievement to the USSR national team's victory in the super series of matches with Canada in 1974, Valery Syutkin called him the main hockey player on planet Earth, Philip Kirkorov was almost late for the concert, rooting for Alexander, and Katya Lel remembered how the hockey star starred in her music video. The artists shared their emotions with Izvestia.

The Super Series

Wayne Gretzky admitted at the ceremony that his grandfather was from Russia, and now he would be glad that the record was broken by a Russian. The fact that a Russian did it was reported by all the news agencies of the world. Alexander Ovechkin has millions of fans.

"What a day! Thank you, Ilya Sorokin, for allowing me to score my 895th goal. The whole world, Russians, we did it! I love you all very much! Alexander Ovechkin rejoiced.

The stars of cinema and show business shared their emotions with Izvestia and hurried to congratulate Alexander Ovechkin.

"I sincerely congratulate Alexander Ovechkin," Nikolai Tsiskaridze, People's Artist of Russia and Rector of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, told Izvestia. — I am proud that 50 years after the super series of matches between the national teams of the USSR and Canada, which proved that our country has world-class players, our player became the best scorer in the history of the league. Not only "in the field of ballet"....

"I join Alexander Ovechkin in congratulating him, and I am proud that I can consider myself his compatriot,— said Andrei Sokolov, People's Artist of Russia.

The main hockey player on the planet

— Sasha, congratulations! This is the greatest achievement. You're the top hockey player on planet Earth right now. Russia, go ahead. I am proud, I love, I respect," said Valery Syutkin, People's Artist of Russia.

Katya Lel also wrote down congratulations. The NHL star starred in her music video and became a friend.

— Frankly, I had no doubt that Sasha would achieve such success, — Katya Lel confessed. — He is a really strong man by nature, unsurpassed in his talent. I saw him on the ice for the first time many years ago. I remember that only a couple of minutes had passed since the start of the match, and I was already struggling to contain myself. She asked: "Who is this strong, characterful person?" And I hear them announce, "Alexander Ovechkin." Of course, he was born for ice, born to be the first.

Alexander Ovechkin himself wanted to star in Katya Lel's music video for the track "Let them Talk". As the singer recalls, he told her with a smile: "Pavel Bure starred with you twice, but I never. How did it happen?"

"As a result, I organized the shooting of a music video with Sasha while he was in Moscow," recalls Katya Lel. — I am very grateful to him for this experience. The camera loves Sasha very much, he successfully fits into this love story. Sasha wrote me an amazing phrase the morning before the shooting. I was very worried and asked if he had forgotten that we were shooting a music video. Sasha replied: "Trust me." That's the whole point of our legendary Alexander Ovechkin.

A legend forever

TV presenter Ekaterina Mtsituridze believes that our hockey player has accomplished a real sporting feat.

"He's a legend now," the TV presenter is sure. — And this day, when he beat the great hockey player Gretzky, has certainly become a historic day for Russia. Especially considering the political realities. Sasha gave us all a holiday when the Russian people received the highest international recognition. And I think, and I think everyone close to this family will agree, that his family, his mother, first of all, his father, but also his wife, our beautiful Nastya, who, while Alexander the Great (as the Americans call him) was scoring puck after puck, gave him a great role in Ovechkin's victory. She raised two wonderful boys and became his real backstretch.

Ekaterina Mtsituridze remembers the Ovechkins' wedding day eight years ago and the parting words of Nastya's mother, People's Artist of Russia Vera Glagoleva.

"This is exactly the kind of union she told them about, exactly the kind of heights she wished for,— says Mtsituridze. — She would be happy now, just like Sasha's father and brother, who are also rejoicing somewhere in heaven today. Congratulations to Sasha, Nastya and the whole wonderful, friendly and talented family.

Philip Kirkorov told reporters that he was even late for the stage because of Alexander's record goal, whom he considers his great friend.

— Just before I went out to perform, I was even a little late for the stage: I watched the match, as he scored this puck, it's just brilliant, — said Kirkorov.