Alexander Ovechkin

Ovechkin scoring

Alexander Ovechkin was born in the Soviet Union on September 17, 1985 and also lived there . He grabbed his first hockey stick and helmet when he was two in a store and refused to put it down. He started playing hockey at age seven. His parents could not afford to play in league, so his coach helped out paying for his hockey funds. Alex has a mom, dad, and a brother. His Brother's name was Sergei, his father's name is Michael, and his mother's names is Tatiana. His family knew that he would be an athlete. They said he loved all sports, but hockey was his best. Later, his brother died in a car accident.

Ovechkin old uniformed poster

As soon as Alex was drafted to the NHL, he moved to Washington D.C. where he plays. Alex then started the Crazy Eights program. He gives eight under-privileged kids a chance to go see a game at their home arena, the “Verizon Center”. They do this every home game. They get special seats and a meet and greet with the players after the game. Ovechkin pays for the seats, snacks, and ride to and home from the game.

Ovechkin poster

Alex also hosts once a year the Ketteler Capitals Iceplex Skills Competition. He skates, does drills, and shares tips with young hockey players. It is for youth hockey players age 6-14. After skating with them he gives every person an autograph.

Alexander Ovechkin

Ovechkin was drafted to the Washington Capitals in 2004 but due to the 2005 lockout he started playing in 2006. This season is his 3rd 50-or-over goal season. He has played in the NHL for 4 seasons. In the 08-09 season he is the league's leading goal scorer. Alex has also had a 65 goal season. There are only twenty players who have ever scored 60 or more goals.

Ovechkin celebrating a goal

Ovechkin is a hero to me because he gives underprivileged kids a chance to go see a game, or those youth hockey players a chance to go play hockey with him and they will remember that for the rest of their lives. Hockey is my favorite sport, which leads to another reason he is my hero. It is because he is great hockey player and some day I would like to be just like him. Alex Ovechkin is a great man.