News
Sports News
Watch: Alex Ovechkin’s better-half Nastasiya goes viral for her message to Wayne Gretzky after historic night

Watch: Alex Ovechkin’s better-half Nastasiya goes viral for her message to Wayne Gretzky after historic night

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Apr 14, 2025, 08:52 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Alex Ovechkin’s wife, Nastasiya, goes viral with a heartfelt message to Wayne Gretzky after Ovechkin’s record-breaking goal. Sharing an emotional tribute, she thanked the Gretzkys for their kindness and reflected on the challenges Ovechkin faced on his journey to surpass the legendary scorer. The heartfelt message, filled with gratitude, resonated deeply with fans worldwide.

Watch: Alex Ovechkin’s better-half Nastasiya goes viral for her message to Wayne Gretzky after historic night

Alex Ovechkin (via: Getty Images)

When a sports icon breaks a seemingly unbreakable record, the moment becomes more than just a stat, it becomes a story. And on April 6, Alex Ovechkin turned that story into history. With a precise wrist shot in the second period against the New York Islanders, the Washington Capitals�?left wing etched his name above Wayne Gretzky’s on the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring list. But behind that monumental goal was a wave of emotion, family support, and a powerful gesture of respect from the man he surpassed.

Ovechkin’s shot made history, Nastasiya’s words made headlines

Alexander Ovechkin Gets The Capitals Rolling Quickly With Goal No. 896

While the hockey world celebrated Ovechkin’s jaw-dropping feat, his wife, Nastasiya, made sure the spotlight extended beyond the ice. She shared a deeply personal video from UBS Arena, showing their sons Sergei and Ilya, and Ovechkin’s mother, Tatyana, delivering touching messages that lit up the jumbotron during a special ceremony. The family’s heartfelt tribute added a personal layer to a globally recognized achievement.

In a moving Instagram post, Nastasiya penned an open letter to fans and supporters. But what stood out was her gratitude to Wayne and Janet Gretzky present that evening for their class and generosity. �?span class="strong em " data-ua-type="1" onclick="stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)">Special thank you to Wayne and Janet Gretzky for their kindness and genuine treatment of our family,�?/span> she wrote. “It is a great honor for us!�?/span>
This wasn’t just a passing of the torch, it was a celebration of legacy, sportsmanship, and unity across generations.

The story behind Ovechkin’s greatest goal

For Nastasiya, Ovechkin’s path to the top wasn’t just about goals scored, it was about battles fought in silence. �?span class="strong em " data-ua-type="1" onclick="stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)">The injuries, worries, stress, pressure�?the way you overcome each challenge is inspiring,�?she wrote. Her words offered fans a rare look behind the scenes, into the resilience it takes to make history.

Even NHL legend Wayne Gretzky acknowledged the moment with grace, gifting Ovechkin a stunning oil painting during the post-goal ceremony. “They say records are made to be broken,�?Gretzky said, “but I’m not sure who’s going to get more goals than that.�?br/>Also Read: Alexander Nikishin joins Carolina Hurricanes: Could He Be playoff spark Carolina needs?
Ovechkin, ever humble, called Gretzky “the greatest,�?saying, �?span class="strong em " data-ua-type="1" onclick="stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)">It’s such a big honor to know him, to have dinner with him, and obviously, to break his record.�?/span>
As the Capitals clinch another Metropolitan Division title, this moment feels like more than a career milestone, it’s a celebration of grit, gratitude, and greatness.

Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, points table and IPL live score for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Don't miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article