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Alex Ovechkin ‘heartbroken’ after learning of Alex Luey’s death

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Alex Luey passed away in his sleep Sunday morning after a three-year battle with cancer. “Alex battled bravely and touched many lives during his life,” his dad, Scott, wrote on Twitter.

Capitals fans first learned of the youth hockey player for the Niagara Falls Flyers two years ago. Alex Ovechkin surprised Luey with tickets to an upcoming Capitals-Leafs game after finding out he was his favorite player. The gesture left Luey in tears.

Now, Ovechkin and many in the Capitals family are shedding some themselves after losing such a good friend.

A “heartbroken” Ovechkin called Luey “a great kid” who “inspire me and our team with his strength.”

Tom Wilson said Luey was “one of the kindest and bravest kids I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting over the years.”

Luey’s battle with cancer first started in 2016 after he experienced a weird feeling after playing hockey.

“He complained about a sore leg,” Alex’s mom, Cat Luey, said. “He had just gone back to hockey through the summer. Like intense dryland training and that. I said ‘Oh you pulled a muscle.’ I put muscle cream on it and we gave it some time. He continued to complain about it. And then he begged to go in a hockey tournament because his team was playing in the first tournament. So we agreed. He said it felt better and that he was okay. He went to school on Monday and fell at recess. Couldn’t get back up.”

After going to the doctor, Alex learned that he had osteosarcoma in his leg, a type of cancer that lives inside the bone. The family was given three options: full amputation, limb salvage surgery (where the bone is replaced by artificial bone), and rotationplasty. Doctors explained to Alex that with rotationplasty, he would lose part of his leg, but his ankle would function as a knee, giving him much more agility and movement. It would give him the ability to get back on the ice and play hockey. So Alex chose that.

“When I came home from my big surgery, the street was lined with all sorts of people. Friends, neighbors, the hockey team, firetrucks, and firemen,” Alex said. “All sorts of stuff like that and it was pretty cool.”

After undergoing chemotherapy, Alex was eventually declared cancer-free in May 2017.

Once Ovechkin learned of Luey’s fight, he surprised him on HNIC’s “Hometown Heroes” with tickets to the Capitals-Leafs game.

On November 25, 2017, the 13-year-old Luey attended the Leafs-Caps game in Toronto wearing a number 8 Capitals jersey with Luey stitched on the back. The youngster announced the starting lineup inside the locker room and hung out on the Caps bench during warmups.

Ovechkin then made Luey a special promise.

What did I tell you before the game?” Ovechkin asked.

“You were going to score for me and win the game,” Luey responded.

Ovechkin scored a hat trick in the Capitals’ 4-2 win over the Leafs.

Afterward, Ovechkin gave Luey his gloves, stick, and helmet from the game – all signed. He also gave him the HNIC towel.

“He was our best player out there,” Ovechkin said.

“It was a great feeling because he’s my idol,” Luey said. “He scored a hat trick for me and they won the game for me. I went on the bench for the warmups and I went to the pregame speech. It was so fun. It was so awesome.”

The Capitals gave Luey a standing ovation inside the locker room.

Ovechkin stayed in touch with Luey and even invited the kid to the Washington Capitals championship parade after the team won the Stanley Cup.

Luey would continue coming to games when the Capitals played the Leafs.

But, sadly, in November 2018, Luey’s cancer returned.

A year later, Luey, who was relegated to a wheelchair, would go to his final Capitals game on October 29. Ovechkin scored twice in the game. “If I score here, it’s only for him.”

After the game, the Capitals gave Alex the team’s hard hat award and took a team photo with him.

In late November, Ovechkin revealed that he was fighting for Luey during Hockey Fights Cancer month.

Sunday, three days before Christmas, Luey’s battle with cancer tragically ended.

Screenshot: Sportsnet

From everyone at RMNB, we extend our condolences to the Luey family. He was an inspirational kid and we will never forget him.. RIP.

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