ARLINGTON, Va. (7News) — It’s the most wonderful time of the year to give back.
When Alex Ovechkin isn’t scoring goals or breaking records with the Washington Capitals, he’s busy growing the game he loves and inspiring young players.
Wednesday morning at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, the Great Eight hosted a hockey clinic for 50 young athletes. The athletes are members of teams associated with the American Special Hockey Association (ASHA), a nonprofit dedicated to serving athletes with intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities.
Ovechkin partnered with the organization over a decade ago.
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“Why hockey? Most people come to us and have never even tried it before,” said ASHA Executive Director Jennifer O’Brien. “They come to us from a variety of different ways but here, they’re welcome.”
According to O’Brien, these skates provide much more than hockey skills. She said she notices a stark difference in athletes’ confidence before and after they step foot on the ice.
“That confidence that comes from being included, that confidence that comes from knowing someone has your back,” she said.
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Even Ovechkin noticed a lot of the athletes were confident, true competitors.
“One guy hit my leg with a stick. I was like “okay, settle down, man, I have to play hockey tomorrow,”” Ovechkin joked. “They all had fun.”
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As Ovechkin’s gr8ness continues to grow with every goal scored and every young athlete he inspires, the Ovi Effect has never been stronger.