NHL star Alex Ovechkin on complaints about Sochi: 'Just settle down'

SOCHI, Russia, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- When he was asked about all the problems that journalists have been experiencing in Sochi at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Washington Capitals star and Russian Olympic hockey team member Alex Ovechkin member had a simple message: “Just settle down.”

Since the Games are being played in his home county, Ovechkin has been dubbed as the “face of Russia” and has had his face plastered on everything from posters to Coke cans.

“I’ve been in three Olympic games. I remember Turin and Vancouver and nobody said something bad about Vancouver and Turin. Why you guys always try to find some bad things in Sochi? Sometimes it’s just funny to see how people try to find,” Ovechkin told reporters.

“It’s Olympics, guys, come on. Everybody have to be enjoy and don’t find bad stuff out there. Everything in Turin was where the construction was and nobody say [anything] about that. Of course world is changing, everybody is focusing on different stuff, political stuff but just settle down.”

Even with all his off-ice obligations, Ovechkin has managed to excel this season and the Capitals’ 28-year-old captain leads the NHL with 39 goals.

“There is a lot thrown on the guy and I don’t think any of us can really understand how much it is,” Capitals teammate Brooks Laich said to CSN Washington. “But once he gets out on the ice he’s free of all that [media], so him getting out on the ice is really enjoyable. You see him jumping after goals. You see the enthusiasm back again. It’s great to see. He’s a big part of our team and almost every game he’s going to get us a goal. I think he’s done a great job.”

Russia will begin play in the Olympics against Slovakia on Feb. 13.

[The Washington Post] [CSN Washington]