Alex Ovechkin goes on date with 10-year old fan

Sep 26, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates with the puck against the Boston Bruins at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates with the puck against the Boston Bruins at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alex Ovechkin is an MVP, a superstar and apparently has a heart made of solid gold.

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is one of the meanest looking hockey players you’ll ever see. He’s got vintage appeal to his game and his appearance as he seems like something straight out of the 1970s era of the NHL.

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But that’s a stereotype about hockey players in general — that they’re mean people — Ovechkin has destroyed in a single day. You may not want to cross him on the ice, but take those skates off and he’s all of a sudden the biggest sweetheart ever.

He’s also a memory making machine for the Schaab family, who have an interesting history with Ovechkin and making memories that will last forever. Ann Schaab, who is a 10-year old with down syndrome, recently went out on a date with the Capitals star, a night she will never forget.

But the story doesn’t end there like it does with so many others like it. Ann’s story goes deeper and is rooted years ago in a memory that her older brother had with Ovechkin and the Capitals in the early days of the star’s career.

As the Washington Post points out, Ann’s brother was taking in a Caps game when owner Ted Leonis invited him into the owner’s box to watch the rest of the game. Afterwords, Ovechkin gave him his stick from the game not knowing that the family he was giving the ultimate memory to would circle back around into his life this week.

It’s a truly unique and amazing story that shows us just how special sports really are to those who take it in and the connection players have with those fans. For absolutely no other reason except fate and chance, the Schaab family is forever connected to Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals and each other for too many lifetimes to count.

[h/t: Washington Post]

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