QUESTION:
Will Washington Capitals players bring the Stanley Cup to visit Russia and Putin?
ANSWER:
Yes, the team is currently working out details.
SOURCES:
Sergey Kocharov- Washington Capitals Vice President of Communications
Anston Lisin- 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia Local Organising Committee- Head of Media Office
PROCESS:
As the Washington Capitals prepare for festive parade across downtown D.C., they're also prepping for another celebration in Russia.
With so much chatter surrounding the 44 year coming victory, our Verify researchers asked the Capitals whether Ovechkin or Kuznetsov had plans to take the the Stanley Cup to Russia and visit Putin.
Sergey Kocharov, the Washington Capitals VP of Communications said yes, they are planning a trip across the Atlantic. For when and how long? They're still hammering out the details.
A spokesperson at the Local Organising Committee for FIFA World Cup Russia confirmed that Ovechkin will attend the tournament's opening match at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia on June 14. Ovechkin was appointed as the 10th ambassador for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in November 2016.
The Capital's team captain got a special 'shout out' from the Kremlin on Sunday, during a press briefing with Russian journalists.
Sasha and I are good friends. He even said he might return to Russia to play here. But his contractual obligations prevented him from doing so. In fact, maybe it is not bad for his personal career, because he has now finally won the Stanley Cup. I congratulate him, as well as the whole team he plays with; this is a great achievement for any team in world hockey. As for the meeting, we meet regularly. We met even before he won the Stanley Cup.
Ovechkin played as a forward for Russia's national team during the 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012 2013-2014 seasons in his iconic number eight jersey.
Ovechkin maintains close to his Russian roots along with fellow Capitals' champions Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov.
This won't be the first time the famed goblet will travel to Russia. Last year, Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar of the Pittsburg Penguins partied with the cup in Moscow.
%
