Alex Ovechkin confirms he is leaving North America
Photo credit: Biography
Alex Ovechkin recently addressed his retirement plans, stating he has no immediate plans to retire but will eventually leave North America.
Ovechkin mentioned that if he no longer enjoyed playing hockey, he would have already retired, regardless of how close he is to breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record.
«As long as I enjoy [playing], as long as I get a thrill out of it, there's no point in finishing,» Ovechkin said per a transcription by sports.ru and a translation by Google Translate. «The hardest period is after vacation. You've played volleyball, gone to the gym for fun, and when you come out [from vacation], you need to run cross-country, lift heavy weights, go on a diet. And then you think: �Why do I need this, I have everything, I have enough of everything.' But after three to four days of suffering like that, you get into a routine and realize that you still love this business. If I didn't love it, I would have finished already.»
Ovechkin also revealed that when he retires, he will move back to Russia and has no plans to stay in North America.
«In Russia, all my friends, relatives, Nastya's relatives are here too,» Ovechkin said. «I feel more comfortable in Russia at the moment than there. [When] our season is ending, and we want to fly home right away because we miss home, our family, our friends.»
For now, fans can enjoy watching Ovechkin attempt to break the all-time goal record, as he is only 41 goals shy of tying it. When he does retire and leave, he will miss everyone in Washington and around the game.
Credit: markerzoneAlex Ovechkin confirms his retirement plan: he will be leaving North America
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27 JUILLET | 135 ANSWERS Alex Ovechkin confirms he is leaving North America Will Alex Ovechkin break the all-time NHL goal record? | ||
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