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Ovechkin won’t miss games to participate in Olympic torch relay

Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates against the New York Rangers in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 6, 2013 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Capitals 4-3. (May 5, 2013 - Source: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America)

On Monday, the Washington Capitals confirmed that captain Alex Ovechkin’s been asked to participate in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic torch relay, but said Ovechkin wouldn’t miss any NHL games doing so.

The relay -- set to begin with the ceremonial lighting in Olympia, Greece, on Sept. 29 -- will run from Oct. 7 to Feb. 7, a 123-day event that will mark the longest-ever torch relay in history.

According to the Washington Post, the Caps and Ovechkin’s IMG representatives are trying to figure out how the reigning league MVP “would be able to participate in the ceremony while missing as little time from the Capitals as possible and minimizing the wear and tear on him from excessive travel.”

Earlier Monday, President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee Dmitry Chernyshenko, told Russian news outlet R-Sport that Ovechkin’s torch relay participation was guaranteed.

Update: According to the Post, Caps head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was invited to be the first Russian to hold the Olympic torch after it’s lit.