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.
Ann Schaab is here, flanking Alex Ovechkin. "He's my boyfriend. He is, because I love him."
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) February 9, 2015
I take a picture of Alex and Ann taking a selfie. pic.twitter.com/WOtr4UjuBd
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) February 9, 2015
"See? You're more famous than me." Ovi to Ann.
— Amanda Bowen (@AmBo3990) February 9, 2015
While the car is cool, it’s been the other things figuratively under the hood that have made a bigger impact. The gesture has raised awareness for the American Special Hockey League, an organization with four teams in the area. It helped give confidence and self-esteem to a young, talented 10-year-old girl living with Down’s Syndrome, although she seemed to be doing pretty well before.
“I’ve been in Washington almost ten years,” Ovechkin said to NHL.com’s Adam Vingan during the event. “I have [a] situation where I can help the kids. If somebody [has] a little bit to give away, you’re going to be much happier and the people who are going to get it are going to be much happier as well.”
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