Washington Capitals: Alex Ovechkin scores hat trick for cancer survivor

On Hockey Fights Cancer night in Toronto, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin promised a cancer survivor he’d score a goal for him. He gave him a hat-trick. 

Last season, Hockey Fights Cancer was led by the touching storyline of the love between Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson and his wife. There have been countless great stories so far this season, but this year’s HFC campaign found its best story on Saturday, Nov. 26. Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin once again proved to be the center of attention.

The Great Eight is never one to be shy to do great things. But what he did on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs might be his most impressive. Before the game on Hockey Night In Canada, Ovechkin, through the Make A Wish Foundation, met Alex Luey, a cancer survivor. Luey is also a huge Ovi fan.

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Ovechkin, being the goal scorer that he is, promised his huge fan a goal. And he delivered. In fact, Ovechkin gave him a hat-trick. Two first period goals followed by a third-period goal gave The Great Eight his third hat-trick of the 2017-18 season. It also placed him in familiar territory – atop the NHL’s goal-scoring race. Not only that, this hat-trick is the 20th of his career, which puts Ovechkin atop the Capitals’ all-time list in three-goal games.

After Ovi scored his third goal, Luey was extremely emotional. Both of the Alexes expressed extreme jubilation. As excited as Ovechkin was on the ice, Luey was probably even happier. That has to be the first time someone has been happier about Ovi scoring a goal than The Great Eight himself.

After the game, Ovechkin once again met up with Luey. Wearing the famous Hockey Night In Canada towel is a tradition hockey players dream about, and Ovi let the cancer survivor experience that thrill. And of course, Ovechkin, being the generous soul he is, didn’t let Luey leave without some autographed swag.

It’s great to see superstars as humble and happy to do great things as The Great Eight. Hockey players tend to be very generous. But Ovechkin takes the cake.

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Luey’s been through a lot, and for one night, The Great Eight made him feel like a champion. The young cancer survivor deserves to feel like one too.