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Washington Capitals’ Ovechkin Wins Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award
WASHINGTON (7News) — The Great Eight is adding another trophy to his already jam-packed trophy case.
Friday evening, the NHL announced that the Washington Capitals captain is the 2024-25 Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award recipient. The award is presented “to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey," according to the league.
The selection of the winner is decided by the hockey legend for whom the award is named, although Messier does solicit suggestions from NHL personnel.
In April, Alex Ovechkin became the NHL's leading goal scorer, surpassing Wayne Gretzky's long-standing record. When the Capitals fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Ovechkin finished his twentieth season with 897 goals, three more than Gretzky totaled during his entire career.
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The 39-year-old has done wonders for the game of hockey, especially in the DMV. Since his rookie season, there has been significant youth hockey growth in the region. According to the NHL's press release, the popularity of the sport in the area increased by 71 percent, totaling more than 20,000, while youth hockey players (18 and under) have increased by 43 percent, surpassing 12,000. Additionally, the press release indicated more than 9,000 players have also been introduced to hockey since the Capitals launched their Future Caps “Learn to Play” program in 2016, supported by the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund.
The release added fourteen outdoor inline/ball hockey rinks have also been built or refurbished by the team in the past two decades.
Ovechkin also plays a significant role in Hockey Fights Cancer and The V Foundation for Cancer Research. The organizations partnered on “THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer,” an initiative to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer research. Starting with his 885th career goal, Ovechkin is donating money for every goal he scores during the remainder of his NHL career, with Monumental Sports & Entertainment matching his contributions.
