Washington Ice Dogs

Alex Ovechkin plays street hockey, surprises Special Hockey players outside Capital One Arena

After making more than a dozen stops across North America, the NHL Centennial Fan Arena finally visited the nation’s capital Friday. Set up just outside the newly renamed Capital One Arena, fans can could take photos with the Stanley Cup (please do not touch the Cup if you’re wearing Caps gear), view the NHL’s traveling museum truck, and explore its interactive exhibits.

Tonight, the Caps will lace up for their first preseason game at home against the St. Louis Blues. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin will not be in the lineup, but he did work up a sweat playing street ball with some very lucky kids.

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By Ian Oland 6 years ago

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How Alex Ovechkin’s Car Donation From Last Year’s All-Star Game Transformed Special Hockey

At last year’s All-Star draft in Columbus, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin went on a passionate, and at times bizarre, quest to get picked last and win a new car. Ovechkin, who already has a fleet of sport and luxury vehicles at home, did not need another automobile. Viewers at home thought it was a long, elaborate joke.

In the end however, Ovechkin’s quest to win a free car was one of the most charitable and kind moments of the NHL season. Ovechkin was not picked last, but when Honda learned of his idea– to donate the car to Ann Schaab and the American Special Hockey Association’s Washington Ice Dogs — the car company happily agreed to do so, setting up an event a month later at a local dealership.

In interviews with ASHA officials and volunteers, I learned that Ovechkin’s gesture had a profound and long-lasting impact on the team and the organization that benefits special needs hockey players.

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By Ian Oland 8 years ago

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Alex Ovechkin Presents Car to Washington Ice Dogs, Ann Schaab Calls Him “My Boyfriend” (Photos)

A few weeks ago, during All-Star Weekend, Alex Ovechkin went on a seemingly bizarre quest to add an eighth automobile to his fleet of fancy cars. After failing to win it during the Fantasy Draft and All-Star Game, Honda relented, giving Ovechkin the car once they learned why he wanted one so bad: he wanted to donate it to Ann Schaab, a young girl he went out on a date with earlier in the year, and her team, the Washington Ice Dogs.

It’s the feel-good moment of what could be Ovechkin’s fourth MVP season.

On Monday, Ovechkin accepted the vehicle at a special event held at Bill Page Honda in Falls Church, Virginia. Schaab got to sit in the car. She did interviews with local media. There were plenty of adorable moments.

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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Adorable Ann Schaab Participates in Caps Shootout During Second Intermission (GIF)

Photo via Melissa Schaab

On Monday, Alex Ovechkin will present Ann Schaab and her special hockey team, the Washington Ice Dogs, with the car he promised them at the All-Star Game. During Sunday’s game, the Caps let Ann onto the ice to make a shootout attempt along with her teammates.

It was adorable.

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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Ann Schaab Sees Alex Ovechkin for First Time Since Car Donation, Not Happy With His Fighting

Photo: Mike Hickey

After Sunday’s All-Star Game, Alex Ovechkin made a sweet gesture by teaming up with Honda to donate a car to Ann Schaab and her hockey team, the Washington Ice Dogs. A few days later, after the Capitals shut out the Pens, Ovechkin met up with Ann and a few of her teammates in the Capitals locker room. They took photos together. It was cute.

What makes it even cuter is Ann’s stern words for Ovi. According to team president Mike Hickey, while Ann was happy to see her date again, she was not so happy with Ovi starting a nine-player scrum late in the Pens game.

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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Not the Car That Matters: Alex Ovechkin’s Good Deed and Its Lasting Impact on Ann, Washington Ice Dogs

Photo: Melissa Schaab

“I think he said card,” Melissa Schaab said to her son Matthew. “I think he’s going to give Ann a card. Not a car.”

“But play the video again.”

That was the scene late Sunday night at the Schaab’s Laurel, MD home. Melissa’s 15-year-old son had been sent a video clip from his friends. It was of Alex Ovechkin speaking to reporters after his fifth career All-Star Game. The future Hall of Fame forward had mentioned Matthew’s sister.

The moment was unexpected, surreal.

“He means card. He’s going to send Ann a card.”

A 2015 Honda Accord is $22,105. A “Thinking of you” card by Hallmark is maybe $3.99.

He couldn’t mean car.

“Then I got on the computer and googled a little bit and saw more about it,” Melissa said. “It was all just sort of unbelievable. This is crazy. This is not happening.”

It was.

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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