Alex Ovechkin is one of the greatest hockey players of all-time. For many teammates, playing with Ovi will go down as one of the biggest highlights of their career. So naturally, some of those players want a stick or an autograph to remember the experience by.
On December 9 during an appearance on the Old Barn Hockey Show, Hershey Bears defenseman Tyler Lewington was asked if he’d like a stick from Ovechkin.
Despite being a fearless enforcer who has punched many a man in the face, Lewington revealed he is too intimidated to approach The Great 8.
The conversation begins at the 5:58 mark.
“I definitely want to get a stick but it’s something – you know, I need to ask him one day,” Lewington said. “Too scared right now to ask him but I’ll get there.”
Of all people, Ovechkin would understand. The Capitals captain has a gigantic hockey stick collection that spans his two homes in America and Russia.
In a 2017 interview, Ovechkin even called collecting sticks from legendary players his biggest hobby.
“I like collecting sticks from different players. You play against the great players, and when you are growing up, you play against a person like [Jarome] Iginla, Owen Nolan, Mario Lemieux, [Dominik] Hasek, [Martin] Brodeur….You want to have something to remember it. It’s like history. It’s going to be a memory for my kids and my grandkids. It’s pretty fun.”
Ovechkin has repeatedly asked Wayne Gretzky through the media for a game-used stick which the Canadian legend promised Ovi if the Capitals won the Stanley Cup.
Athletes asking for memorobilia from other players has also become less taboo over time too. Last week, for instance, New York Jets players got in a line to get a signed Lamar Jackson jersey for their collections. The Ravens quarterback is having an MVP caliber season.
Jets players lining up for a Lamar Jackson jersey after the game 🙌
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/cpkwHP3pQR
— ESPN (@espn) December 13, 2019
During the interview, Lewington also spoke about tallying a Gordie Howe Hat Trick in his second career NHL game last year. He had no idea he accomplished the feat during the game.
“No, I think it was one of those things where I got the assist and the goal and I kind of wanted to just show my physical side and it kind of happened,” Lewington said. “After all of that, it turned out to be a Gordie Howe Hat Trick. I didn’t know the game was on Hockey Night In Canada so I got a lot of texts from a lot of my buddies back home. Family was watching, but I didn’t know it was Hockey Night In Canada that night.”
Lewington was honored with the HNIC towel after the game – a prestigious honor for any Canadian hockey player. Lewington stuffed the towel in his Capitals bag and its whereabouts were unknown.
“I have that towel now,” Lewington said. “I found it eventually. It’s back in my closet back home in my dad’s house. I think at first I got called up and played in my very first game, have that Gordie Howe Hat Trick, I think it’s just kind of a blur. It didn’t really feel like reality. But looking back on it now that I’ve had time from it, it’s definitely special and something I can enjoy more now.”
Now Ovi, just get Tyler that stick, and he will have even more to enjoy.
Tyler Lewington or Wayne Gretzky? Can’t spot the difference pic.twitter.com/Nsm774agSG
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) December 19, 2019
Share On