Alexander OVECHKIN

Alexander Ovechkin, aka The Great Eight, is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time.

His first taste of international action came in 2003, when he helped the Russian Ice Hockey Federation win gold at the World Junior Championships. A year later, he made his senior international debut as a 19-year-old at the World Cup of Hockey, becoming the youngest player to play in the tournament.

Ovechkin made his NHL debut for the Washington Capitals in 2005, and was selected to represent his country at the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics. Although his Russia failed to win a medal, Ovechkin scored five goals in the tournament and was the only player not on the Swedish (gold medal winners) or Finnish (silver medal winners) teams to be named to the all-tournament team.

He wouldn't have to wait long for international success, however. The Moscow native was a key part of the Russian team that lifted the 2008 World Championships title. Despite being favourites for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Russia were eliminated in the quarter-finals by the hosts. But Ovechkin was part of the rebuilding process that saw his nation lift the 2012 and 2014 world titles.