Throwback to when Alex Ovechkin hit a hole-in-one before becoming hockey's ultimate goal machine

Before he became the NHL's most prolific goal scorer of all time, Alex Ovechkin was already pulling off GOAT stuff—such as achieving a hole-in-one on his first-ever round of golf. Yes, it really did happen. It was 2006, at a Washington Capitals charity golf tournament, and the Russian phenom took his very first swing at the tee box and holed out. That wild swing? Guess that was all it took.

Alex Ovechkin's GOAT status was apparent even before the goals—like that hole-in-one

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It does not occur very often that an individual captures two sports—even for a fleeting instant—with so much panache. But that's Alex Ovechkin. Whether he's swinging a golf club for the first time in his life or firing slap shots at close-to-lightning speed, he's always had the reflexes of a natural athlete. That 2006 golf experience wasn't a coincidence—it was a sign.

Flash forward to the present, and Alex Ovechkin has added yet another unbelievable accomplishment to his résumé—beating Wayne Gretzky's record by scoring his 895th career NHL goal, becoming the league's all-time leading goal scorer. The record was set in a game against the New York Islanders when Tom Wilson had passed him the puck before he scored it past goaltender Ilya Sorokin. The record-breaker was one he scored at the 12:34 minute of the second period when he shot a one-timer past goaltender Ilya Sorokin off a smooth pass by Tom Wilson.

The game was brought to a halt. Alex Ovechkin was welcomed with applause, cheers, and on-screen congratulations from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and even the Great One himself.

And now, with 895 goals in his tally, Alex Ovechkin is all by himself at the top of the NHL's all-time goal leaderboard. His style of play—raw, powerful, accurate—has reset our definition of goal-scoring in today's hockey. He's not only the symbol of the Washington Capitals—he's a legend of the sport.

Also read: Alex Ovechkin’s relentless drive ignites Capitals’ playoff hopes

Alex Ovechkin's legend was written long ago before the records

Whether it's one-swing miracles or record-breaking goals , Alex Ovechkin exists in the world of the impossible. That hole-in-one instant is merely a small part of the legend—a precursor that whatever he touches becomes iconic. And now, with the NHL goal record in his back pocket, the legacy of The Great Eight is cemented—and still expanding.