Okay, this story is too cool to spoil. Guest writer Ellen T. is a Caps fan with an talent for arts and a thing for the Alex Ovechkin. We’ll let her take it from there.

Two years ago, before the first Caps Convention, I found a pattern for a knitted hockey player. Yeah, I know; I’m a 23-year-old girl that knits– cool or lame? Anyway, I thought as a joke I would knit one for my friends, so I knitted a little stuffed Ovechkin.

Adorable, right?

My friends thought it was funny, so they dared me to give the doll to Alex Ovechkin at the Caps Convention when I would get my picture taken with him. I took the doll, and when it was my turn, I nervously said, “hey, I knitted this doll this summer and thought you might like it.” He smiled and accepted it, and then we took the picture. Not ’til later did I realize the doll was in the picture, which was a treat.

Ignore my awkwardness in this picture. I was nervous and excited, and I guess that turned into a weird smile and posture. I swear I usually take better pictures.

Moving on. Did you watch the HBO 24/7 first episode? [Ed. note- Yup.] Well, I did, and I noticed something. When they show the pictures of Alex as a boy on his shelf, you see an Ovechkin bobblehead. Pan left, a picture of kiddie Alex. Pan left, and– What’s that!?! That’s my knitted doll right beside the picture!

Let me tell you: I let out the biggest fangirl scream ever! I never would have thought that the silly knitted doll I gave to Alex on a dare would still be…well, there. I figured the doll would have been thrown away or shoved in a box somewhere with all the other stuff fans give him. Nope, the doll is on Ovi’s shelf. Yay!!!