HELSINKI/STOCKHOLM – The Russian Hockey Federation has invited Washington Capitals forwards Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Syomin to join the national team at the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.

FHR President Vladislav Tretiak and Executive Director Valeri Fesyuk confirmed the information with the Russian media.

“They will help us a lot. They are both talented, experienced and I think will add a lot to this team,” Pavel Datsyuk said about the duo.

The Russians are awaiting official approval from the Washington Capitals and they are currently dealing with insurance, travel and visa formalities. The duo is expected to arrive in Stockholm on Wednesday, 16th May, one day before the quarter-finals.

“We’re doing all the documents, solving the issue of insurance and we expect them in Stockholm on the 16th for the quarter-final,” Fesyuk told news agency RIA Novosti. “Obviously these two players seriously strengthen our team.”

The Washington Capitals were eliminated by the New York Rangers in game 7 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals on Saturday.

Ovechkin was the fifth-best goal scorer of the NHL with 38 goals and 65 points in 78 regular season games, and five goals and nine points in 14 playoff games. Syomin notched 54 points (21+33) in the regular season and four (3+1) in the post-season.

Ovechkin will play in his eighth IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. The two-time NHL MVP (2008, 2009) has won medals with the men’s national team on four occasions, gold in 2008, silver in 2010 and bronze in 2005 and 2007. He was also on last year’s national team, but didn’t have any scoring point in five games.

Syomin will play his sixth World Championship. He was on the teams that won gold in 2008, silver in 2010 and bronze in 2005.