Alex Ovechkin is set to play in his milestone 1,500th career NHL game on Saturday night. In tribute to that historic achievement, Ovechkin’s teammates arrived in style ahead of their matchup against the Ottawa Senators.
Taking full advantage of the NHL’s newly relaxed dress code, every player arrived at Capital One Arena wearing outfits that matched what Ovechkin wore during his 2012 Russian rap video appearance.
The outfit included a plain white T-shirt with a screenshot of Ovechkin from the video printed on it, a gold chain with a number 8 pendant, and a white baseball cap turned sideways.
Clips from the video also played on the giant video board in the entrance hallway that was installed ahead of this season.
Most of the players also chose to mimic some of Ovechkin’s hilarious poses from the video.
Ovechkin’s sick bars from over a decade ago came on a track titled “Champion,” by Russian artist Sasha Belyi. The Great 8 raps a full verse in the song and also dances in other scenes, wearing just a black tank top. Around the 2:55 mark of the video, Belyi introduces Ovechkin’s verse like an old-school boxing announcer.
At the time of release, the video’s filming drew significant attention in Ovechkin’s home country, with MTV Russia even airing a full feature on the recording process. Ovechkin is seen recording his verse in the studio, wearing a shirt that reads “Sex and love are the future.”
Ovechkin will become just the 24th player in NHL history to play in 1,500 career games when the puck drops against Ottawa. He is also just one goal away from becoming the first player ever to score 900 career goals.
Hopefully, if the Capitals can take down the Senators, they will celebrate by blaring “Champion” in their locker room after the game.