Alex Ovechkin has officially surpassed Wayne Gretzky as the NHL`s all-time leading scorer. He achieved his 895th career goal on Sunday against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena, breaking Gretzky`s record, after tying it with a two-goal game at home on Friday.
Despite being an away game, the NHL and the Islanders paused the game for a special ceremony to honor Ovechkin`s remarkable achievement. Wayne Gretzky himself was present and delivered a congratulatory speech to Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals` iconic player. Many other prominent figures from the sports world and beyond also offered their congratulations.
Shortly after Ovechkin reached this new milestone, the NHL released a video montage featuring congratulations from numerous legendary personalities in sports and entertainment.
Unsurprisingly, many hockey icons such as Mark Messier, Sidney Crosby, Jeremy Roenick, Martin Brodeur, Sergey Federov, Marie-Philip Poulin, Hilary Knight, PK Subban, and Doc Emrick sent messages to “The Great Eight.” Washington sports stars like Jayden Daniels, Elena Delle Donne, and Ryan Zimmerman also expressed their admiration for Ovechkin, a legend in D.C. sports history.
The list of well-wishers extended beyond hockey, including sports giants like Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, LeBron James, Roger Federer, Buster Posey, and Derek Jeter. Celebrities from television, music, and film, such as Steve Carrell, Snoop Dogg, Dave Coulier, Pat Monahan, Vince Vaughn, and Pat Sajak, also joined in the congratulations.
This diverse group of congratulators highlights Ovechkin`s immense impact and his position not only among hockey`s elite but in the broader world of sports.
