Capitals fans feel 'privileged' to have witnessed Ovechkin era

WASHINGTON -- The smile on Max Curtusan’s face turned into a slight frown, as if the reality of the moment had finally set in.

“I've been watching ‘Ovi’ play for, like, my entire life,” said Curtusan, a teenager from Clarksburg, Maryland, as he sat in his lower bowl seat at Capital One Arena. “I've never watched a Caps game without him playing.”

Curtusan and his family were among the thousands of fans who arrived early to the arena on Wednesday to see the Washington Capitals host the Pittsburgh Penguins and soak in the atmosphere of Alex Ovechkin’s final NHL home opener.

Ovechkin announced on Monday that this will be his final NHL season. There was a sense of bittersweet acceptance and understanding about his decision among many fans at the arena.

“I would love him to stay one more season,” Curtusan said.  “But I understand it’s something he needs to do.”

Several fans congregated along the rink glass to get a glimpse of Ovechkin during pregame warmups. The arena erupted when Ovechkin’s sons, Sergei and Ilya, introduced their father before he skated onto the ice to join his teammates.

Curtusan’s mother, Kristy, said she was torn about Ovechkin’s announcement. The family became season ticket holders last season to personally witness Ovechkin add on to the NHL goals record he broke the season before, pushing the mark to 929.

“We weren’t surprised, but it still hit really hard,” she said. “We texted each other and everybody.”

Ian Hibbeler, a season ticket holder from Fredericksburg, Virginia, said he was disappointed by Ovechkin’s decision but understands why the 41-year-old left wing made it.

“It was either this year or next year,” Hibbeler said. “We thought we'd get a couple more, but hockey, you know, Father Time is undefeated. How long can you play? This isn't quarterback in the NFL. You're playing shifts, and those kids are fast – (Macklin) Celebrini, (Cole) Hutson on our team.”

Hibbeler, a recreational hockey player, said Ovechkin may leave Washington at the end of the season, but he leaves a hockey legacy with the Capitals and on the sport in the region.

“He brought us hockey in this area. He built this up until this,” he said. “I mean, up until he was here there was nothing. As for the Caps, it’s Tom Wilson’s team next year. We signed (Ryan) Leonard for eight years. We signed (Justin) Sourdif for eight years. We have (Alex) Tuch.”

Like Hibbeler, June Haviland said she’s excited about the Capitals’ future, but saddened by Ovechkin’s pending departure.

“My heart breaks because I don’t want him to be gone,” said Haviland, a retiree and season ticket holder from Woodbridge, Virginia, and proud owner of seven Capitals jerseys. “I don’t want him to be gone, but I still think that it’s the thing to do.”

Jefferson Mason, another Woodbridge resident, said he’s a relatively new hockey fan who gravitated to the sport because of friends who play and because of Ovechkin’s high-scoring exploits.

“I’ve been a huge Ovechkin fan,” he said. “I’m sad to see him go, but I respect it. I know he definitely said he wants to be there for his kids and, yeah, I get it.”

Neal Oakman, who attended the game with Mason in matching Capitals blue alternate jerseys, echoed his friend’s sentiment.

“I’m sad but, you know what? I’m happy,” Oakman said of Ovechkin. “He’s a legend and I’ve just been so grateful to grow up with him. He came into the league when I was 11. So just to see everything he’s done and honestly transform hockey in the DMV area, I’ve been privileged.”