Pascal Leclaire recently got a gift he’ll cherish forever.
During the 4 Nations Face-Off break in February, Leclaire, a former goaltender for the Columbus Blue Jackets, received a signed jersey from Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin, as a 20-year-old, scored twice on Leclaire during his NHL debut on October 5, 2005.
“Well, we’ll say it, I’m the one who put [the goal chase] on the map,” Leclaire said laughing when he revealed the gift during TVA’s February 23 coverage of the Capitals-Oilers game.
“My daughters didn’t believe me that I had faced Ovi,” Leclaire added. “So, I contacted Washington, then they were very fine. Ovi sent me a signed jersey… But hey, it proves the kind of person he is. He is a good person, extremely generous of his time.”
Ovechkin added an inscription on the back of the sweater as well, writing You were number 1 🙂. One of the TVA announcers admitted she was surprised by his nice handwriting.
Leclaire also recounted what it was like being scored on by Ovechkin so early in his career.
“You know, look, it’s his first goal in the National League,” he said. “I was in front of the net with the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was at his first presence, you can see how dangerous he was going to be, the kind of career he was going to have with his launch. But his flair to find himself, to be forgotten in free spaces like that, that’s really what makes him quite effective.”
After the Capitals defeated the Oilers 7-3, Leclaire actually wore the jersey during the postgame coverage and made sure to wish Ovechkin the best with the goals chase and in the playoffs. What a great sport he is here.
S/T to reader @s_aubry_ for the heads up on the story. Leclaire’s comments were made in French and translated by RMNB via Apple translations.
