He was on the Putin team, with supporters in Russia and the US. They're counting on hockey diplomacy in the Kremlin

Over half a century ago there was a ping-pong diplomacy that helped bring America and China closer together - now possibly there will be a hockey diplomacy in relations with Russia. Russian hockey player Aleksander Owiechkin broke a evidence of all time in the number of goals in the American NHL league. 2 years ago, there were questions in America as to whether the Russians should play NHL at all. Now the climate has changed and Ovechkin can become an "ambassador of peace".