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ashington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin finally broke the NHL’s all-time goal record last week when he put away No. 895, topping Wayne Gretzky’s record which was set all the way back in 1994.

Hockey has become a secondary sport in our region when compared to the likes of football, baseball and basketball, which in this case is a shame, as this is one of the biggest sports stories of the past decade.

Like most that watch the NHL, I have spent the majority of my life considering Gretzky’s record as untouchable. I never thought I would see the day that the record was broken as 895 is such an astronomical number. It was not until last season that I began thinking that Ovechkin had a chance.

At 39 years old, Ovechkin is not as explosive as he once was but remains a productive player. He is now up to 42 goals this season and a plus/minus of 17. This record chase has propelled him to one of his best seasons ever as he has tapped into his younger self. 

I thought that by the time he retired he would have a chance, but I thought he’d be lucky to score anything beyond, say, 25 goals this year. This is my longwinded way of saying that what he is doing is remarkable.

We’ll see what the future holds for him, but if he sticks around for another couple seasons, he may actually be able to put the record out of reach for more than Gretzky’s 31 years. The Capitals are one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup this season, and if they do, would Ovechkin consider retirement with the goals record and his second championship? I can’t say I’d blame him if he walked away under those circumstances, but how could he retire after scoring over 40 goals? Clearly he still has more in the tank.

Although most fans have embraced witnessing history, there of course were some naysayers on the radio airwaves the past few days trying to put a damper on Ovechkin’s record. The older generation that still worships Gretzky is very protective of his legacy and Ovechkin being mentioned in the same breath has clearly struck a nerve for some. 

Relax. Gretzky is still the greatest player of all time. He’s second in goals scored, first in assists (which is a record that truly, may never be touched), first in points, fourth in career plus/minus, all while being a nine-time MVP and four-time Stanley Cup champion. Although one record slipped away, it’s hard to imagine that we encounter a better, more accomplished player in the sport in our lifetimes.

I am a sucker for historic moments in sports. I love a feel-good story, I love a thrilling game, but perhaps more than anything, I love watching history. While most fans in Rhode Island were locked in to March Madness and the Red Sox opening their season, my eyes were on the goals record. It may, and probably will be, the last time we ever see that record broken.

By the way, Gretzky was first class throughout the entire process.

He traveled with the Capitals the last few games and when the record was broken, he was the first person to shake his hand on the ice and delivered more than complimentary words of congratulations. Records are meant to be broken and he operated in a manner that few would. Sure, professionals are usually capable of putting on a brave face when needed, but Gretzky appeared to be truly happy for Ovechkin. He seemed proud to pass the torch to the next generation.  

There are some things in sports that we rarely, if ever witness. The all-time goals record in hockey is one of the most prestigious numbers that we finally, after 31 years, got to see be reset. Pittsburgh Penguins’ star Sidney Crosby is the next down the list of current players with 622, but is 37 years old. Steven Stamkos is at 580 but is 35. 

If Ovechkin keeps playing, we could be waiting more than 31 years. Let’s celebrate witnessing such a significant event.