Ovechkin to receive Gretzky Award at Hall of Fame Ceremony
The star player of the Washington Capitals will add a new trophy to his massive collection in December. Alexander Ovechkin will receive the Wayne Gretzky International Award during the US Hockey Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. Set to occur December 12 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, the ceremony will honor those who helped to grow the game in the US.
The Gretzky Award was established in 1999 to honor hockey players outside the US. Though not born here, these players had an influence on the game in the States. Ovechkin joins the company of Bobby Hall, Herb Brooks, and Wayne Gretzky himself as recipients of the award.
Ovechkin’s influence on local hockey has had a noticeable effect. Since Ovechkin came to Washington in 2005, DC transformed into a hockey town. Youth hockey players in the DC area have more than doubled to about 22,000 since then. An invigored fanbase crowded the streets with red when Ovechkin brought the Stanley Cup to town for the first time in 2018. Ovechkin is more than worthy of the award for his community work and contributions to DC hockey.
For the man who has everything, a Gretzky award is just icing on the cake. As the only player in history to win the Ross, Richard, Pearson, and Hart trophies in the same year, Ovechkin has room for one more. This will look nice with his Smythe Trophy.
