RUSSIA AT THE OLYMPICS: Ice Hockey: Ovie's the big man as Russians unite

Vancouver (AFP) - Alex Ovechkin showed off his spectacular hockey skills on Monday in a fast-paced first practice for the Russian Olympic team, then left teammates to explain his importance to their quest for gold. Racing past reporters as if he were outskating a defender, the flamboyant 24-year-old playmaker simply said, "Sorry guys. Doping control," after the brisk workout uniting top players from Russian and North American leagues. "He's the best player in the world. He's very powerful," said veteran Sergei Fedorov, a former NHL teammate of Ovechkin with the Washington Capitals. "He's atomic - a lot of talent with a crazy shot. You've got to channel that and he has been able to so far. Now he can bring that to the national team." Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk, a possible linemate of Ovechkin when the Russians open against Latvia, was amazed at the speed of the gap-toothed player whose dazzling solo efforts for goals have become NHL legends. "I would enjoy it better if I was a little faster," Datsyuk said, adding that his best strategy was likely to give Ovechkin the puck and get out of his path to the goal. "It's a good idea," Ovechkin said. "If you don't move you will be crushed." On a diverse 20-man squad that features nine players from Russia's Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Ovechkin has taken a locker-room leadership role, reserve goaltender Evgeni Nabokov said. "He's the greatest player in the world and he's also a normal guy," Nabokov said. "He's the same in and out of the locker room. You can joke and have a good time with him." The Russian lineup also includes Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin, an NHL teammate of Canada star Sidney Crosby, Ovechkin's top league rival. Malkin said he and Crosby spoke about their Olympic rivalry before the NHL's Olympic break began. "We said 'Good luck' to each other and we will never say anything bad about each other," Malkin said. Asked if he will be willing to slam his body into Crosby if necessary, Malkin replied, "Yes, and not (only) once. At the same time we are good friends." Blending NHL and KHL standouts will be critical, but many KHL players have spent time in the NHL. "NHL gives good experience. KHL gives good experience," said Fedorov, a veteran of both. "It's a solid group." Coaching has been an issue for past Russian teams, old-school federation bosses meeting a new generation of players. But Olympic coach Vyacheslav Bykov, a former player, has been just the answer. "So far he is. He understands our young players," Fedorov said. "What's good is he was a player. He's got that experience." Fedorov, 40, would not call this team the most talented he has played upon, deferring to the Soviet Union squads that dominated until the nation's breakup. "I played in the Soviet era. We had talented teams then too," Fedorov said. "In this age, we have really good players. We have an exciting team. We're having fun." Fedorov hopes to turn back the clock and return Russian talent to the top of the Olympic podium. "I'd like my career to go out with a bang," he said. "I'd like to just touch that style of play I once had. If I can touch that level it would be great."

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