- Alex Ovechkin set up “Ovi’s Office” in the left circle at the Capitals’ Hockey Fights Cancer skate
- Nearly 30 children impacted by cancer skated with the team, and each one got a shot from Ovechkin’s spot
- Read below for what Ovechkin, Spencer Carbery and Alex Tuch said and where his GR8 Chase fundraising stands
Alex Ovechkin opened his office to the kids on Thursday.
The Capitals captain set up “Ovi’s Office” in the left circle at the team’s annual Hockey Fights Cancer skate at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va. Every child who took part got a turn shooting from his favorite spot, and Ovechkin ran the station in a lavender mullet wig.
Nearly 30 children impacted by cancer and their families skated with the team. Each player was paired with a child from Blood Cancer United Mid-Atlantic, Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, MedStar Health or Sunrise Day Camp Greater Washington, while Ovechkin held down the circle.
Take a look at the scene from the Capitals’ PR account:
Ovechkin talked about what the kids bring to the ice.
“To see how they smile, to see how they have fun, score goals, skate around, chat with us, it’s very important and it’s very cool,” Ovechkin said.
The skate carries more weight this year. Ovechkin announced Oct. 5 that this will be his final NHL season, and the 41-year-old holds the league record with 930 goals. We’ve been following the farewell tour city by city, and this stop was a lot closer to home.
Capitals coach Spencer Carbery talked about watching his captain with the kids.
“He’s always got the biggest smile out there and has a great time,” Carbery said. “I bet if you ask him in a few years … he’ll miss days like this, being able to give back like this.”
Five-year-old Sunny Thornton was paired with goalie Logan Thompson but made time for Ovechkin too. Her mother, Katie, said Sunny couldn’t attend the home opener because she was getting treatment, so she sent Ovechkin a good-luck video and got one back saying he got the win for her.
Ovechkin explained how the two stay connected: “Unfortunately, she couldn’t come for opening night, but we sent her a video. So, we have a connection, and we will always have it.”
Alex Tuch, who skated with 13-year-old Nate Greenberg, talked about what the day means for the players.
“These kids go through something that you don’t wish upon anybody, and they come in with the biggest smiles on their face,” Tuch said.
Catch more from the skate here:
Pediatric cancer has been a long-running cause for Ovechkin. He has made a donation through THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer for every goal since his 885th, with Monumental Sports & Entertainment matching each one. The campaign has raised more than $276,000 since March 5, 2025, and the money goes toward the Alex Ovechkin GR8 Chase Pediatric Cancer Research Grant through the V Foundation and Hockey Fights Cancer. The league’s Hockey Fights Cancer push kicked off last month.
The Capitals will wear the lavender-and-white jerseys from the skate on Nov. 19 against the Sabres at Capital One Arena for Hockey Fights Cancer Night. The jerseys will be autographed and auctioned afterward.
