T-Ruff 47 Report post Posted November 28, 2007 Came across this post through another board: My name is Shanna Westbrook and I'm a Buffalo Sabres fan. I live in the DC area though and am actually a Buffalo transplant. My husband is from DC and is a HUGE Caps fan. And through his affection for the Caps, he managed to turn my 7-year old daughter into a Caps fan as well. She loves Alex Ovechkin. My son, Parker, however is a Sabres fan like me. Anyway, we were in attendance at last nights Sabres-Capitals game and were lucky enough to meet Alex after the game. Well, under the circumstances, lucky isnt the correct word. Let me explain. My daughter Lindsay was diagnosed not too long ago with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. It was ridiculously hard news to take since we never saw that particular diagnosis coming. Both of my children play youth hockey and have for years. At first it didnt slow her down much at all but now, thanks mostly to chemotherapy and other meds, she's so tired and sick all the time that she just cant play anymore. So to make up for the loss of hockey in her life (and it's a shame because she was so good at it) my husband has been taking her to Capitals games, and when she's too sick to go, we all watch the games on TV and it lifts her spirits tremendously. And ours too. Now to make a boringly long story a little shorter, I'll get right to my point. My husband's business partner has a friend in upper Caps management and he arranged for Lindsay (and us too) to meet with Alex after the game last night as a surprise to Lindsay. My husband made up this ridiculous story for her when she questioned why we were still at the arena when the game had ended, lol. She's a smart girl but she never saw this coming. But when Alex and some other guy(I'm not sure who he was, public relations maybe, but he was informing Alex about Lindsays cancer) walked in the room her little jaw dropped and she just stared at him. He came over to talk to her (he called her sweetheart) and she was just speechless. Then all of a sudden she just started bawling, a little overwhelmed maybe. And what Alex did next was totally unexpected. I moved over to go comfort her and hopefully get her to talk to him but Alex beat me to it. He sat down on a bench and set her on his lap and just held her in his arms. I couldnt believe it. At that point, I started crying as well, lol. After she calmed down, they just started having a conversation like they've been best friends for years. She told him about how she plays,or played rather, hockey and he gave her a few tips, lol. She told him about how she had a chemo treatment that morning and she wasnt feeling too well and he gave her another hug. Then he taught her how to say "I love you" in Russian. That was...interesting lol. They just talked back and forth for a while. A lot longer than I thought actually. And before he left and we went home he gave her an address and told her she could write to him anytime she wanted and he'd make sure he'd get it. I think it may have been a fan club address or something. I cant imagine it'd be his personal address. He even gave her a "special" nickname: Lulu, lol. I asked him why Lulu, and he said because he likes that name, lol. He's a funny guy. And even with his semi-broken english(it's getting much better though) it was just an unbelievable night. I just wanted everyone to know what an AMAZING guy we have here in Washington. I've never had an experience quite like that one. Sorry for the forever long post. The kind of thing that makes you glad to be a hockey fan again, the original link Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viperar 16 Report post Posted November 28, 2007 Alex is the man....i wish i could defer to my avatar, but i dont have one yet He truly is an awesome guy and I love watching him everytime i go watch the caps play. Absolutely superb person Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
up2here 41 Report post Posted November 28, 2007 Mr Ovechkin my hat is off to you....now if only we could figure out a way to get him in the Winged Wheel Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut40 176 Report post Posted November 28, 2007 Awww, what a sweetheart! You could tell he's a sweet guy in the NHL commerical just by the way he says "Two meatloaf dinners." I love it how hockey players are such badasses on the ice, yet totaly lovable off the ice. We have alot of guys like that. Unfortunetly there are some chris prongers out there. Thankfully none on our team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
b.shanafan14 733 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 Great read, great story. I've always loved Ovechkin, love his energy on the ice and I've heard before he is an awesome guy. Lets see if the Caps will take Hasek for Alex straight up Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Booster313 138 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 What an amazing story. It's great to hear things like this...the best part is we heard about it from a fan, not a news reporter. Sometimes I think athletes and celebs in general do things because it's good publicity. If not for this woman we'd never know about AO's good deed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yemack 1 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 (edited) wow after all those tiresome interviews and ppl asking for autographs in supermarket, you would think that player (a superstar player no less) will get sick of those special requests. he is certainly walking the walk alright Edited November 29, 2007 by Yemack Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie_Wing 354 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 Ovechkin is a leged, absolutely no doubt about that. Seriously he's my favourite player in the league, love watching him play and he's obviously a terrific guy too! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Shoreline Report post Posted November 29, 2007 (edited) Total class act, which transcends the on-ice game. It's good to hear about good athletes also being good people. Edited November 29, 2007 by Shoreline Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kozac 10 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 Too bad the Capitals suck and lose all the time Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viperar 16 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 Too bad the Capitals suck and lose all the time hahaha what does that have to do with anything, sometimes the integrity or intelligence level of the LGW posters have be baffled Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kozac 10 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 hahaha what does that have to do with anything, sometimes the integrity or intelligence level of the LGW posters have be baffled That has a lot to do with everything. What if you were a little girl sick with cancer? Not only life sucks, but you also have to watch your favorite team lose night in and night out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redmathew 0 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 i loved him playing golf......."hole in one!!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HkyTwn 5 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 Class act love that guy! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toby91_ca 620 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 It's too bad you don't hear more stories like this, because I can tell you that there a many, many, many NHL players that do this type of thing all the time. I'm not sure you see a lot of that in some of the other sports for some reason. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edicius 3,269 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 Great find and great story, T-Ruff. AO is the real deal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PenaltyShot 96 521 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 What an amazing story and a classy guy On a side note, we now have to watch and see if he names a daughter Lulu Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
irishtemper14+25 11 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 i love how alex o plays and acts off the ice, thats why hes on my nhl 08 team Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viperar 16 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 That has a lot to do with everything. What if you were a little girl sick with cancer? Not only life sucks, but you also have to watch your favorite team lose night in and night out. no that correlation is a load of bulls***, if you actually read the story they said the girl happy watching the caps no matter what, it takes her back to being able to play hockey. Your comments are simply ignorant and retarded. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doggy 130 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 Wow awesome story, thanks for posting. I used to just love Alex for the way he played. It's great to hear he's a classy guy too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gordie Howe hat trick 110 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 AO is the man...I always liked him as a player, and it seems that he has more personality than alot of em'. Awesome, just awesome. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
interminded 1 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 It's always nice to read about players who have this totally "other" side to them. Class act, that Ovechkin dude. Warms my heart. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shannyfan1414 0 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 What a great guy. An amazin hockey player that i love getting to watch. I try and head down to DC for at least one Caps game a year and the only reason is to get a chance to see AO play. I think that it is just amazin how he reached out to that little girl and spent some good quality time with her out of the kindness of his heart. It is stories like these that need to be put out their for the world to read. Let people know just how nice and caring hockey players can be. Way to go AO. How do you feel about living in Hockey Town and playing on the greatest profesional franchise ever? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seeinred 1,488 Report post Posted November 29, 2007 I'm considering getting a disease so I can meet AO. Seriously though, that's a great story, but it doesn't surprise me in the least that yet another hockey player takes time out to meet a fan. AO's the man, I'd give my left nut to see him in the Winged Wheel Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WeBleedRed 8 Report post Posted November 30, 2007 (edited) someone NEEDS to send this to SI, or TSN, SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE Edited November 30, 2007 by WeBleedRed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
