Alex Ovechkin is a great man off the ice

When one thinks of Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, goal scoring and a lot of it comes to mind. But what’s just as impressive if not more than what he does on the ice is what he does off the ice for the community. Especially the youth.

Earlier this month, Ovechkin and the Caps hosted Nate Wessel, a Make a Wish kid that was supposed to come by in 2020 but then COVID happened. But three years later, Nate finally got his wish!

Wessel is a 14 year old hockey player form Glenwood, Maryland that was born with a hearth condition that would require three open heart surgeries. The first came when he was 10 days old. He became a Capitals fan during the 2018 Stanley Cup run and Ovechkin is his favorite player.

Nate not only attended a Capitals practice, he also got to announce the starting lineup in the Caps locker room and stand alongside Ovechkin for the national anthem for their game against the New Jersey Devils.

Sunday’s loss the Minnesota Wild was frustrating. But after the game hearing this next story made my day. The next person Ovechkin reached out to had a horrifying experience of his own.

Back in 2019 a stranger approached a five year old named Landen at Mall of America and threw him off a third floor balcony outside of Rainforest Cafe. He suffered brain trauma and broke several bones in his body.

Four years later, Ovechkin surprised him and his family by sending Landen a care package. Inside included some signed gear and a note inviting him to the Caps vs. Wild game and a chance to meet the great eight after.

As you can see in the video, the kids went crazy! Here’s the moment Ovechkin met Landen and his family.

The great eight has impacted youth throughout the world. Whether kids have met him or not, the ones that haven’t still look up to him and model their game after him. Youth hockey participation is up in the DMV and continues to grow. And it’s all the Ovechkin effect.