Ovechkin Surprises 10-year-old Washington Ice Dogs Player, Asks Her on a “Date” ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin surprised 10-year-old Ann and asked her on a date during the Capitals’ game versus the Carolina Hurricanes on Oct. 5. Ovechkin and Ann, a native of Laurel, Md., met on Sept. 11, during an American Special Hockey Association (ASHA) skate with 60 children and adolescents hosted by Ovechkin at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, the official training facility of the Capitals. During the session, Ann, who has the genetic disorder Downs Syndrome, skated to Ovechkin and invited him on a sushi date. Ovechkin granted her request during the Capitals final preseason game at Verizon Center. The day began with Ann and her parents arriving at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, where they were given a tour of the Capitals locker room. During the tour of the facility and with Ann sitting in Ovechkin’s stall, the Capitals captain entered the locker room, surprising Ann with his appearance. He presented a personalized jersey and flowers to Ann to accept her date invitation and drove Ann to Verizon Center. At Verizon Center Ann watched warmups from the Capitals bench sat in the Ovi’s Crazy 8’s seating section along with her family to watch the Capitals game. Following the game, after meeting numerous Capitals players and head coach Barry Trotz in the locker room, she and Ovechkin continued their date with a post-game meal of sushi in the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Owners Club. “I was pretty surprised when Ann skated over and asked me out during our skate,” said Ovechkin. “I thought it was a good idea and decided to take her up on it. It was great to see a smile on her face. She is a terrific and funny kid. She seemed to have a lot of fun and I was very pleased to spend some time with her.” The Sept. 11 ASHA event during which Ovechkin met Ann marked the first of many community initiatives he will continue to support throughout the 2014-15 season. Ovechkin created Ovi’s Crazy 8s in 2006, a program through which he purchases and donates eight Capitals season tickets to Most Valuable Kids, allowing fans who normally wouldn’t have access to tickets the opportunity to attend games. Ovechkin also supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, having most recently granted the wish of Washington, D.C., native Ellie Carney.
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 01:48:17 +0000