"I'm still going."
That was Alex Ovechkin's succinct response to the NHL's decision to boycott the 2018 Olympic games just five months ago, doubling down on his prior stance while his employer did its best to squash his enthusiasm.
As one of the league's most ardent ambassadors of the international tournament, Ovechkin's determination to suit up for his native Russia, even at the cost of leaving the Washington Capitals for two weeks midseason, served as the exemplar of how badly NHL players want to represent their countries in Pyeongchang next February.
Jakub Voracek called the Olympics decision "absolutely ridiculous." Erik Karlsson said it's "crap." Evgeny Kuznetsov said he'd follow his Capitals teammate overseas, while Connor McDavid and Jonathan Toews, two of the sport's biggest names, publicly expressed their disappointment.
Even as droves of superstars made sure their voices were heard, Ovechkin's longstanding desire to defy the norm, and to do it his way, felt like the lone glimmer of hope for fans and players, making everyone believe that all parties could work past the numerous complications involved in sending the league's most treasured figures to Korea for the love of the sport.
(Photo Courtesy: Action Images)
As adamant as he was, Ovechkin's wish ultimately fell by the wayside Thursday night, when he finally conceded defeat in the form of a heartfelt statement that all but assured not a single NHLer will participate.
"Me, my teammates, and all players who want to go all lose. So do all the fans of hockey, with this decision that we are not allowed to be invited. NHL players in the Olympics is good for hockey and good for Olympics. It sucks that (we will) not be there to play!!" Ovechkin wrote.
There you have it. After months of wondering if Ovechkin would deliver on his audacious pledge to play for gold with his countrymen, the delusion abruptly vanished. Even with the support of the Capitals' owner, he won't get what he wants, and, sadly, neither will we.
It was fun, though, in hindsight, wondering whether Ovechkin would force his way into Russia's lineup. Who knows what kind of chain reaction he could have set off if he got the green light? Would Evgeni Malkin and other Russians have joined him? Would superstars of other countries want in too? Could the NHL stomach two weeks without its biggest names? We'll never know.
Through it all, Ovechkin's viewpoint was admirable. Reading his statement, it's easy to sense how passionate he is about the Olympics, a tradition that's as deeply rooted in his family history as his well-documented nationalistic pride. But, after Thursday's acceptance plea, the dream is unofficially dead for both Ovechkin and hockey supporters alike. And now, rather than wondering whether Ovechkin will follow through on his previous claims, we're left to begrudgingly settle on his latest: "It sucks."
