Capitals’ Ovechkin, Orlov To Play In Paralympic Sledge Hockey Match

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and defenseman Dmitry Orlov are set to take the ice on Thursday, as Russia’s top NHL, KHL and Olympic stars square off against the country’s Paralympic sledge hockey team.

The match will be part of a gala match, and Ovechkin is the ambassador of the event, per sports.ru. In addition to Ovechkin and Orlov, stars like Alexander Yakushev, Vladimir Myshkin and more will play.

Ovechkin and Orlov will additionally play in a charity match in Russia on Saturday, with proceeds going to the Artemi Panarin Foundation. The match is supporting 6-year-old Elisey Artamonov, who much undergo neurorehabilitation in Spain. Panarin will also play, as well as Alexander Radulov, Val Nichushkin and more notable pro hockey players.

Earlier in the offseason, both played in Alexander Semin‘s farewell to hockey game. Ovechkin had a hat trick.

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Both Ovechkin and Orlov returned home this summer, with countrymates Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alexander Alexeyev staying in the United States. Amid Ivan Fedotov‘s detainment and other concerns surrounding NHLers in Russia, general manager Brian MacLellan doesn’t believe Ovechkin or Orlov will have trouble returning for training camp in September.

“I haven’t heard anything,” MacLellan said with regard to potential trouble leaving Russia. “As far as I know, there’s no concern about them getting back to North America.”

Ovechkin is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. The 36-year-old dished 50 goals for the record ninth time. He also added 40 assists for his first 90-point campaign in over a decade. Orlov had a career year as well, establishing new personal highs of 12 goals and 35 points. He was also a plus-25.