Ovechkin and Capitals to raise money for cancer research as he pursues the NHL career goals record
Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals, Hockey Fights Cancer and the V Foundation launched an initiative to raise awareness and money for pediatric cancer research in connection with his pursuit of the NHL career goal-scoring record.
The team announced the partnership Wednesday with Ovechkin 10 from tying and 11 from passing Wayne Gretzky's mark of 894 goals that long seemed unapproachable. Ovechkin said in a statement he was proud to support the V Foundation's lifesaving research as part of what is being called The GR8 Chase for Victory Over Cancer.
'Throughout my NHL career, I have met many brave kids battling cancer, and I feel it's important to do what I can to help save more lives from this horrible disease," Ovechkin said in the statement. "I want to thank the V Foundation for all their hard work, and I look forward to using my platform and doing anything I can to help further the V Foundation and Hockey Fights Cancer's mission.'
As part of the initiative, Ovechkin will donate an amount equal to his career goal total every time he scores for the rest of his career, beginning Wednesday night at the New York Rangers. Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Capitals, is set to match, doubling the amount, which adds up to $19,580 when he reaches 895 and continues for as long as the 39-year-old continues to play.
'Alex Ovechkin's summit to greatness on the ice has been a thrill for all hockey fans, and his commitment to funding innovative pediatric cancer research will make a lifesaving impact for years to come,' said Shane Jacobson, CEO of the V Foundation for Cancer Research, which was founded in 1993 by late N.C. State men's basketball coach Jim Valvano and ESPN. 'We are thrilled to have Alex on our team. We look forward to celebrating his accomplishments and celebrating advancements in cancer research together.'
The Capitals and Ovechkin are also inviting fans to donate $8 — for his jersey number — or any amount as they can give in honor of the record chase. With 31 goals this season, Ovechkin is on pace to break the record in early April and might have gotten there earlier if not for missing 16 games in the fall because of a broken leg.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
recommended
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Oilers-Panthers Game 3 gets out of hand with multiple ejections
The standard rule of NHL playoff hockey is that if the score gets out of hand, the feistiness gets out of hand. The Edmonton Oilers were highly undisciplined as they fell 6-1 to the Florida Panthers in Game 3. Then the third period predictably turned into a series of scrums and misconducts. Advertisement It started at 10:29 with the Oilers trailing 5-1. Edmonton's Trent Frederic tried to punch Florida's Sam Bennett and missed. He then cross-checked Bennett several times, breaking his stick on his final effort. That led all of the skaters on the ice to square off. The scrum turned into a prolonged fight between Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse and Florida forward Jonah Gadjovich. Five players were thrown out of the game. Frederic received 14 minutes in the scrum, Bennett 12 minutes, Nurse 17 minutes and Gadjovich 15 minutes. Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm also received a 10-minute misconduct. "I don't think we would have acted or played like that had it been a one-goal or two-goal game," Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. "Boys being boys, I guess trying to make investments for the next game." Advertisement The Oilers' misconducts continued with Evander Kane leaving the game after slashing Carter Verhaeghe, and Kasperi Kapanen was ejected for cross-checking Eetu Luostarinen. All told, there were 122 penalty minutes handed out in the third period, 75 of them to the Oilers. "The game obviously got out of hand at the end there," Kane told reporters after the game. "That stuff's going to happen. You look at some of the calls and whatnot, some of them are frustrating. They seem to get away with it more than we do." The Panthers received 11 power plays in the game and scored three power-play goals after entering the game with a 3.6% success rate in home playoff games. Advertisement "We talk about being composed," Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk told TNT. "You've got to take a punch in the face, you've got to take a slash in the face, a cross-check, a slash in the leg. Whatever the case is, you've got to do it. There's a bigger picture with the win for us." Oilers' Jake Walman receives two fines The only disciplinary actions resulting from Game 3 involved Oilers defenseman Jake Walman, who was fined twice. He was fined the maximum allowed $5,000 for roughing Tkachuk, who was tied up by Edmonton's John Klingberg. Walman received another $5,000 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct after spraying his water bottle toward the Panthers' bench. Kris Knoblauch on Game 3 officiating The Oilers coach answered carefully when asked about the officiating during the game, noting the Edmonton penalty for too many men on the ice. Advertisement "It was too many men. They caught us there," he said. "I just wished they had called it (against the Panthers) in Game 2 in overtime." Stanley Cup Final notes Even though Knoblauch pulled Stuart Skinner, he said he doesn't have to make a decision on who to play in Game 4. "Stu, I don't think had much chance on many of those goals," he said. … Before Bennett was ejected, he had a massive shift where he delivered two big hits and then scored on a 2-on-0 breakaway. … The Game 3 win gave Panthers coach Paul Maurice 1,000 combined regular-season and playoff victories. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stanley Cup Finals Game 3 gets out of hand with ejections, line brawl
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Rangers And Ducks Are Reportedly In Advanced Discussions On A Trade Involving Chris Kreider
Brad Penner-Imagn Images A Chris Kreider trade is reportedly in the works. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the New York Rangers and Anaheim Ducks are in advanced discussions on a deal that would send Kreider to Anaheim. Advertisement Seravalli adds that there's no deal at this moment in time, but there's interest and a framework of a potential deal. Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today is reporting that the framework is a prospect and a pick coming back to the Rangers with the Ducks taking Kreider's full $6.5M AAV. It was widely speculated Kreider could be traded this offseason, and now it seems like he'll be moved sooner rather than later if this deal comes to fruition. The 34-year-old forward recorded 22 goals, eight assists, and 30 points in 68 games while averaging 16:45 minutes this past season.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Brent Rooker breaks up no-no with RBI double
Marco Sturm introduced as Boston Bruins head coach; shares his vision and goals for team The Boston Bruins formally introduced Marco Sturm as the 30th head coach in franchise history on Tuesday. Watch his full press conference where Sturm charts out his vision for the team, and GM Don Sweeney discusses how he landed on Sturm as the team's next head coach. 47:20 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
