Washington: Mayor of Washington, DC, Muriel Bowser has declared April 11, 2025 as “Alex Ovechkin Day” in the US capital city, in honor of the Washington Capitals ice hockey team’s Russian forward.
According to Namibia Press Agency, on April 6, Ovechkin scored his 895th goal in an away game against the New York Islanders, becoming the sole record holder in the league as he overtook Canadian Wayne Gretzky, who scored 894 goals in 1,487 matches. On Monday, Ovechkin scored his 896th goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“WHEREAS, On April 4, 2025, Alex Ovechkin scored his 893rd and 894th career NHL goals, tying Wayne Gretzky’s record for most career NHL goals in front of a raucous, sold-out crowd at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. Then, on April 6 in New York, Ovi [Ovechkin] scored his 895th career NHL goal against the Islanders, surpassing Gretzky to become the all-time leading goal scorer in NHL history; and WHEREAS, today at Capital One Arena, we come together as Washingtonians, as hockey fans, and admirers of the Great 8, to celebrate Ovi on this amazing accomplishment and to thank him for being with the Capitals his entire NHL career and being a vital component to what makes us the District of Champions: NOW, THEREFORE, I, THE MAYOR OF WASHINGTON, DC do hereby proclaim April 11, 2025, as ‘ALEX OVECHKIN DAY’ in Washington, DC and do commend this observance to all Washingtonians,” the mayor’s proclamation released by the Washington Capitals on Tuesday read.
Ovechkin has had other achievements during his career in the National Hockey League, winning such trophies as the Stanley Cup, the statement added.
A gala evening in honor of Ovechkin’s record was held on April 11. The player’s colleague, Niklas Backstrom, gave him a baby goat as a present. The acronym GOAT stands for “Greatest of All Time.”