Alex Ovechkin is preparing to return to the Washington Capitals for his 22nd NHL season, but the 40-year-old superstar is already working on his off-ice career back in his native Russia.
Ovechkin recently filmed scenes for the Russian comedy movie “Hockey Dads 2,” the sequel to the 2023 film “Hockey Dads,” before his expected flight back from Russia on Sept. 10.
The movie’s Instagram account released the first images of Ovechkin filming alongside actor Aleksey Bardukov and, according to Russian outlet Championat, the Capitals captain will appear in “several” scenes.
“Cougar Film Company has released new stills from the filming of ‘Hockey Dads 2,’” Championat reported. “One of the sequel’s characters will be Russian hockey player Alexander Ovechkin, who will appear in several scenes in the second installment.”
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Directed by Andrei Bulatov, the sequel is expected to be released next year. The original movie centered on fathers of youth hockey players forming their own team to save their children’s ice arena from demolition.
The sequel reunites those fathers with their now-grown children for a new international competition called the “Games of the Future,” as the Hockey Dads must team up with their children’s team to save the kids’ youth hockey program from a new management group.
Ovechkin has made acting part of his recent offseasons, being credited with three acting roles throughout his career, including appearing in a film, a TV show, and a music video. The Capitals captain has also appeared in multiple commercials filmed for American television.
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This latest off-ice project comes before another significant season, perhaps Ovechkin’s last, in Washington.
Ovechkin signed a one-year, $4.25 million extension in July, but hasn’t announced that the coming campaign will be his final NHL season. Even if it is, the hockey world would keep enjoying his game in Russia, as he plans to join Dynamo Moscow after leaving the USA.
For now, the Capitals and Ovechkin will open training camp on Sept. 17, with Washington’s preseason debut scheduled for Sept. 20 against the Boston Bruins.
