The Washington Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Finals. The victory ended the team's 'championship drought.'

Washington D.C., home to the Capitals, Wizards, Nationals, and Redskins hasn't housed a champion since 1992.

The Capitals' 4-1 series win over the Golden Knights secured the Capitals' first-ever Stanley Cup win.

One main fixture of the team is left winger, Alexander Ovechkin, who has become a beacon of leadership, strength, and loyalty to the franchise since being drafted as the first overall pick in 2004.

The Russian native has played hockey since 2001. He began his professional career in the Russian Super League at 16. After exhibiting his skill and intelligence for the game, he became one of the most sought-after players for the National Hockey League (NHL).

The Washington Capitals drafted him in 2004, and within his rookie season, Ovechkin lead rookies in goals, points, power play goals and shots. To conclude his rookie season, Ovechkin was the recipient of the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league's best rookie.

While playing in the final year of his rookie contract (2007-2008), Ovechkin signed a 13 year, $124 Million contract extension.
In response to some thinking the deal was a gamble, Capitals owner, Ted Leonsis thought otherwise.

At the press conference surrounding the new deal, he added: "I'm a risk-taker. And if you're going to make a long-term investment, who else would you do it with? This takes away any of the issues of how committed we are to winning a Cup, how committed we are to keeping a team together."

Sure enough, his investment has paid off. With the help of Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, Brayden Holtby, Evgeny Kuznetsov, T.J. Oshie and many others, Leonsis and the Capitals were able to resurrect their once depleted franchise and reinvent it to be Division champions and eventually, Stanley Cup Champions.

The team's championship parade took place June 15 and was filled with thousands of Capitals fans who had been waiting years, and some even decades, for the event.

The parade began at the Arlington Police Department, then went to the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and finally to Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Along the way, the team invited many fans to observe and even touch the trophy.

Ovechkin deemed winning the Cup and being able to share it with the city of Washington D.C. the "best moments in his career." The team brought pride to the city that had been without a champion for many years.

He continued, "We just want to share with everybody. I think we said in [the] parade, 'It's yours.' We try to share with everybody and see the smiles and see the happy faces."