Hometown favorite, Alexander Ovechkin, makes history as he became the first ever Russian to carry the torch for the opening of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

 The 2014 Winter Olympics is set to take place in the Caps star home country, specifically the city of Sochi in February of 2014. The 123 day relay, which originated in Olympia, Greece, began the prequel to the opening of the games. The Capitals captain will kick off the relay by being the first person to carry the torch in this Olympics relay along with being the first ever Russian to hold the same honor.

 Ovechkin tweeted, “So sick!!!!!!!best moment in my life!!!thx @cocacola and Sochi 2014 !!!!”.

The NHL season began it’s season in early october, but will take a break in the beginning of 2014 to accommodate for the players playing for their home countries. Ovechkin, along with his fellow NHL stars with represent about a dozen teams competing for gold in Sochi.

“Im super excited for the rest of the NHL season and the olympics because its double the hockey and it will be interesting to see some of the Caps players playing against each other as they represent their home countries team,” junior Lee Hayes said.

With Canada awarded gold, US receiving silver, and Finland taking the bronze in the 2010 games in Vancouver, it will be interesting to see which country comes out on top in Sochi this year.

“I think that Team Canada will win again because they’re always successful when it comes to hockey,” Hayes said.