Ovechkin Offers Svechnikov a Life Lesson on Millennial Arrogance, Hubris

This may come as a shock to many reading this, but there WAS a time when younger people actually respected those older than them. Then again, that was also a time when younger people actually had to slowly work their way up to the point of being respected and have their words and deeds recognized as relevant.

The sleet is settling after the NHL Playoff hockey fight between Washington Capitals’ captain Alex Ovechkin and Carolina Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov.


Ovechkin is not exactly one that could be characterized as your typical hockey enforcer-type goon. In fact, Alex Ovechkin hasn’t been in a fight since 2010. Meanwhile, he’s always in the upper tier of league scorers and is a sure-bet first ballot Hall of Fame selection.

In other words, respect a future legend.

Svechnikov appeared to provoke Ovechkin, and the two exchanged words before dropping the gloves.
ESPN, 4/16/19

But we’re also dealing with a young man who, while he should stand his ground on the ice, didn’t give the larger adult the respect earned and deserved.


So, a boy decided he could take on an experienced man, was summarily dropped and at the look of things, Svechnikov (now sporting a big, don’t-hit-me grill) won’t be back anytime soon.

Alex Ovechkin has been in the National Hockey League since the 2005 season and over those fourteen seasons has played 1084 regular season games and 124 playoff games (including winning a Stanley Cup). Oh, and he participated in a whopping THREE career fights.

Andrei Svechnikov (who was around 5 when Ovechkin first put on a Capitals uniform) has been in the NHL a grand total of 82 games and 3 playoff games.

While too many of today’s non-hockey-fan youth would be repulsed by the altercation, this is also quite the presentation of a life lesson that could prove invaluable to said youth.

Believe it or not, one day millennials will be the oldheads. We can only imagine how their offspring will behave but as the human experience is relatively cyclical, respect for elders may come back en vogue once it applies to them.

BTW — We’re Boston Bruins fans.