Trump Hosts Russian Hockey Star Ovechkin, Washington Capitals Team At White House

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th March, 2019) US President Donald Trump on Monday welcomed Stanley Cup champions the Washington Capitals hockey team and the team's captain Alexander Ovechkin to the White House, calling it a great honor to meet them.

"It's a great honor for me, because I am a Hockey fan, and I am a Capitals fan," Trump told the team as they visited the Oval Office. "This guy [Ovechkin], Ihave no choice but to be his fan because he is something special. Look at those hands. Special guy, special athlete player. They all are. They won something last year ... that's all people wanted to talk about. I couldn't get them focused on other things that we deal with which are very important."

Trump said he believes the team will do great in the upcoming playoffs this year and wished the players good luck.

"Good luck in the playoffs," Trump said. "I think you are going to do fantastic ... Alex, i know you are going to do great."

"You brought the Stanley Cup home," Trump added. "I have a feeling you are going to be doing it again."

The Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup last year for the first time in history, and Ovechkin became the first Russian with the rank of a team captain to ever win the cup. The Washington Capitals claimed a 4-3 victory in the final playoff match over the Vegas Golden Knights ice hockey team.

Besides Ovechkin, two more Russian players play for the Capitals, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov.