Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, of Russia, hoists the Stanley Cup after the Capitals defeated the Golden Knights in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals Thursday, June 7 ...

With the yellow skate laces and tinted visor, the goal celebrations and gap-toothed smile, Alex Ovechkin became a role model to a lot of kids who grew up to play alongside him in the NHL.

Cooley admired Crosby, but he grew up a Washington Capitals fan for a very specific reason: Alex Ovechkin. Advertisement Article continues below this ad “That's the real one,” said Cooley ...

Cooley admired Crosby, but he grew up a Washington Capitals fan for a very specific reason: Alex Ovechkin. “That's the real one,” said Cooley, who's now playing for the Utah Hockey Club.

Watch as Washington Capitals' Alexander Ovechkin scores on an empty net right before the final buzzer to pick up career tally No. 878, moving 17 goals away from Wayne Gretzkey's all-time record.

WASHINGTON -- Alex Ovechkin scored his 878th career goal into an empty net with 0.1 seconds left on the clock to move closer to Wayne Gretzky's NHL record, and the Washington Capitals defeated the ...

He's a legend.” Russia's Alexander Ovechkin shoots during practice at the 2006 Winter Olympics, Monday, Feb. 13, 2006, in Turin, Italy. Credit: AP/GENE J. PUSKAR That legend started early.