[Editor's Note: Though he's one of the best players in the world, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is also a normal guy who likes to take in a movie every now and then. That's how RMNB reader Mahesh P. came to run into him and have a night he'll remember forever. Let's turn it over to Mahesh.]
My brother and I found out that Troy Brouwer would be at Tysons Corner Mall a few Thursdays ago, so we decided to go meet him. We were indeed successful in meeting him and he seemed like a really nice guy. I told him that I really like the way the 2nd line is playing right now and that they are cycling the puck really well, which he agreed with obviously. I also mentioned that I really like when Oates puts Fehr in the top 6. To this, Brouwer said “I agree, I think Fehr is really good because he plays well.” So, I would call that a successful meeting.
As amazing as the night had already been, it did not end there.
My brother and I decided to go to see the new Hunger Games movie in the same mall after meeting Brouwer. We debated whether or not to buy the tickets on our phone before dinner so that we wouldn’t have to stand in line at the box office. For the rest of my life, I will be thankful that we decided not to buy the tickets in advance.
We were in line at the box office to buy the tickets when my brother noticed a group of 4 people in front of us. They were: Dmitry Orlov, his girlfriend, Maria Kirilenko and… Alex Ovechkin!
Yes, I met my hero, the greatest player to ever play the game of hockey, on Thursday night! It took about a minute for my heart to stop beating rapidly and for me to recover from the initial shock of this extraordinary sight. I felt bad to interrupt his night off with his fiance and friends, but I overcame my initial nervousness and plucked up the courage to ask him for a quick photo.
I said, “Sir, Ovi, I’m really sorry, but would you mind taking a quick picture with me?” I half expected him to just ignore me and walk away, but, without hesitating, he said “Sure!” This shows how nice a guy he really is.
Ed. note: Ovi looks thrilled. Also note Orlov ordering tickets behind them.
The night did not end there.
It turned out that Ovi and his group had decided to see the same movie as my brother and I. This was an IMAX theater, in which you have to pick your exact seats at the box office. It turned out that, by chance or destiny, we picked seats in the same row as Ovi’s group! There were just a few empty seats separating me from my idol as we watched the same movie just a few feet apart!
I was happy enough meeting Brouwer, but I could never describe my feelings after meeting Ovi. I am still a little bit in shock, but for the rest of my life, I will be thankful that my brother and I decided not to skip the box office line by buying tickets in advance.