The Russian Ice Hockey Federation announced Wednesday that Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin will serve as Team Russia’s captain at the World Cup of Hockey 2016.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin and SKA St. Petersburg (KHL) forward Pavel Datsyuk have been named alternate captains.
Ovechkin, 30, has recorded 525 goals and 966 points in 839 NHL games with the Capitals. The NHL’s leading goal scorer the last four seasons, Ovechkin has served as team captain in Washington since 2010. The Moscow, Russia native has won three gold medals with Team Russia at the IIHF World Championship (2008, 2012, 2014).
Malkin, 30, has registered 295 goals and 760 points in 644 NHL games with the Penguins. Malkin has served as an assistant captain in Pittsburgh since 2008 and has won two Stanley Cup championships (2009, 2016). The Magnitogorsk, Russia native has won two gold medals with Team Russia at the IIHF World Championship (2012, 2014).
Datsyuk, 38, registered 314 goals and 918 points in 953 games over 14 NHL seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. He served as an alternate captain for 10 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. The Sverdlovsk, Russia native was team captain for Russia at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Datsyuk won a gold medal with Team Russia at the 2012 IIHF World Championship.
Eight teams – Team Canada, Team Czech Republic, Team Europe, Team Finland, Team North America, Team Russia, Team Sweden and Team USA – will compete in the two-week tournament, featuring more than 170 of the best players in the NHL. All tournament games will be played at Air Canada Centre, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
