Alex Ovechkin Hockey Fights Cancer skate with children at Washington Capitals facility, Digi Mart USA News (Arlington, Virginia): Alex Ovechkin’s office was open for visitors during the Washington Capitals’ annual Hockey Fights Cancer skate at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Thursday. Children impacted by cancer who took part in the skate with Capitals players had the chance to shoot pucks with the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring leader from his favorite spot in the left circle.
“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. For the skate, each player was normally paired with a child from Blood Cancer United Mid-Atlantic, Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, MedStar Health or Sunrise Day Camp Greater Washington.
This year’s skate was different because Ovechkin, who holds the NHL record with 930 goals, announced on Oct. 5 that this will be his final season in the League. Instead of being paired with one child, the 41-year-old forward set up at the “Ovi’s Office” station in the left circle, and each child took turns shooting from there.
“The kids have fun,” Ovechkin said. “They shoot the pucks.
They (skate) around, smiling, laughing and their parents are happy, so it’s very important.” Ovechkin appeared to enjoy the event as much as the children, donning a lavender mullet wig to join the fun, as did some of the children, their parents and his teammates.
“He’s always got the biggest smile out there and has a great time,” Capitals coach Spencer 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.”
All Capitals players wore lavender-and-white Hockey Fights Cancer-themed jerseys, which they will also wear for the Hockey Fights Cancer Night game against the Buffalo Sabres at Capital One Arena on Nov. 19. The jerseys will be autographed and auctioned in a Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation Capitals Hockey Fights Cancer auction.
The skate is also about bringing a joyful distraction to these children during a difficult time. “These kids go through something that you don’t wish upon anybody, and they come in with the biggest smiles on their face,” Capitals forward Alex Tuch said.
“So, to see them come in and have so much fun and just be a part of their day and be a part of their journey and experience is really special for all of us.”
Tuch was paired with Nate Greenberg, a 13-year-old in remission from Ewing Sarcoma who completed 14 rounds of chemotherapy and 20 blood transfusions in 2025. “While I was in treatment, I was always feeling like there’s nothing I can do that’s normal, I can’t go outside and play,” Greenberg said.
“But being out here, just made me feel awesome. It was great.”
Among the other participants was 5-year-old Sunny Thornton, diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2025. Thornton was paired with goalie Logan Thompson for the skate, and she also caught up with Ovechkin, with whom she walked the red carpet before the Capitals’ home opener last season.
Sunny’s mother, Katie Thornton, said her daughter was upset when she could not attend this season’s home opener because she was receiving treatment at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. “She said, ‘It’s just down the street.
Why can’t we go?'” Katie Thornton said. “I tried to explain it to her, and she made a little video to Ovi wishing him good luck and then she got a video back from Ovi saying that he’s sorry that he missed her and that he got the win for her.
So, when they got to see each other today it was really special.”
“Unfortunately, she couldn’t come for opening night, but we sent her a video,” Ovechkin said. “So, we have a connection, and we will always have it.”
Supporting children with pediatric cancer has long been an important cause for Ovechkin, who is active in raising funds and awareness through THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer. He has donated for each goal he has scored since his 885th, with Monumental Sports & Entertainment matching his contributions.
Since the campaign began on March 5, 2025, it has raised more than $276,000, which will be used toward establishing the Alex Ovechkin GR8 Chase Pediatric Cancer Research Grant through the V Foundation and Hockey Fights Cancer.
“They are truly fighters,” Ovechkin said. “They have this kind of thing in their lives, and they fight for their lives and they’re truly warriors.”
