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Still Giving: Alex Ovechkin Donates 70 Bags of Hockey Equipment to Orphanage in Moscow Region

By Ian Oland

 1 Comment

February 17, 2015 10:24 am

ovechkin-gives-away-hockey-gear

Photo: Pavel Lysenkov

Apparently giving away a car, fulfilling the wish of an 8-year-old with diabetes, going out on a sushi date with a 10-year-old with Down’s Syndrome, giving away countless sticks and pucks, and secretly supporting a bunch of Russian orphanages is not enough.

According to a press release from the Moscow Region’s ministry of physical culture, sports, and youth programs, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has donated 70 bags of hockey equipment to the Sergiev Posad boarding school, an orphanage operated by the Russian Orthodox Church.

Per Championat.com and a Fedor Fedin translation:

On [Monday] at Sergiev Posad boarding school located in Toporkovo village, the “Little Olympic Games” will be hosted. On four courts, the competitions commemorating the anniversary of the Sochi Olympics in biathlon, hockey, football, boxing, swimming, athletics, and table tennis will be conducted. Participants and guests of the athletic event will be congratulated in a video address by Alex Ovechkin, while his mother, two-time Olympic gold medalist in basketball Tatyana Ovechkina, will award 70 kits of hockey equipment to the children.

The event will be attended by famous athletes, Olympic champions Valeri Kamensky, Viktor Shalimov, and Yuri Lyapkin.

The video of the address hasn’t been made public.

Now we know why Mikhail Ovechkin wasn’t available to go on the Caps father’s trip this year.

SovSport’s Pavel Lysenkov spoke to both of Ovechkin’s parents during the event.

Fedor once again has your translation.

Tatyana Ovechkina: This was Sasha’s idea. He wants the majority of boys around the country to play hockey instead of just hanging around on the streets. When they’re out of orphanage, the interest for sports will remain. It’s the right way of life. If at least one guy or girl who had a hard fate and lost their parents go on to become good athletes, then we didn’t do it for nothing. And we need kids to feel that we care and love them.

How many orphanages does Sasha Ovechkin support in Russia?
Tatyana Ovechkina: Six.

At the recent NHL All-Star Game, Ovechkin won a car and gave it to an American hockey school for special kids.
Tatyana Ovechkina: Sasha helps orphanages and ill kids there too — those with cancer and Down’s syndrome.
Mikhail Ovechkin: My son does it sincerely! Some say it’s just PR. What are you talking about?

I counted that a car costs 1.6 million rubles ($25,000). And 70 kits of branded hockey equipment (50,000 rubles each) are worth 3.5 million rubles ($55,000). That’s a lot of money!
Tatyana Ovechkina: Why even count that? Regardless how much it is, it’s for kids. And let anyone assess it as they want. Sasha does it to make good for the kids. They’ve been through a lot of hardships already.

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