Valuev called Ovechkin's record an epochal event for the sport.

State Duma deputy and former boxing world champion Nikolai Valuev congratulated Alexander Ovechkin, the forward of the Washington Capitals hockey club, who broke Wayne Gretzky's record for goals in the regular seasons of the National Hockey League (NHL), and noted that his achievement was an epochal event for the sport.

"To achieve, overcome and be the best is in our souls, something that was brought up by generations of our ancestors, and the spirit of victory lives in us," Valuev commented on the hockey player's achievement in his Telegram channel.

The deputy noted that Ovechkin dedicated the record goal to his family, devoted fans and compatriots, addressing them immediately after the match. Valuev added that Ovechkin's record could become "the foundation for warming relations between the superpowers."

The former boxer also wished the Russian forward well-being, new victories and a long sporting career.

Stormy ovation: Russian stars congratulated Ovechkin

The artists shared their emotions about the record of the legendary Russian hockey player.

Ovechkin scored his 895th goal in the NHL regular season on April 6 in a match against the New York Islanders. Thus, he broke the record of Canadian Gretzky, who scored 894 goals.

The Russian hockey player was congratulated on the record by the TV channels of the National Media Group and the leader of the group "Hands Up!" Sergey Zhukov. The performer dedicated a clip to the hockey player's favorite song from the repertoire of the musical group to the historical achievement with a modified text dedicated to the record goal.