As Ovechkin enters his 21st year, the Capitals legend continues to rewrite hockey history, and his legacy off the ice is proving just as powerful in shaping the culture of Washington, D.C.
Doug Williams defined sports in Washington, D.C. in the 1980s, and before his untimely death in 2007, Sean Taylor was primed to assume the reins. In the last few decades, many athletes have made athletics more popular than politics in the nation’s capital, but it’s about time we have a discussion about the effect Alex Ovechkin has had on the District.
Now entering his 21st year in professional hockey, and with yet another monumental achievement added to his already storied career, Ovechkin has forever changed the game — but it’s Washington, D.C. that emerges as the true winner, thanks to his unwavering commitment to the city.
The Washington Capitals left winger was drafted No. 1 overall by the team in the 2004 NHL Draft, and if you ask most Washingtonians, it doesn’t even feel like two decades have passed since his arrival. The list of accolades is far too extensive to list out, but true Caps fans know things really picked up for Ovi on Jan. 5, 2010, when he was named captain of the team. Born in Russia, he became the first European, second-youngest, and 14th overall captain in Caps history.
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After nearly a decade and a half with the club, 2018 would finally go in the direction of the Capitals. Not only did he lead the team to a Stanley Cup championship, the first in franchise history, but Ovi also received the Conn Smythe Trophy for Most Valuable Player in the 2018 Playoffs.
Fast-forward to the 2024-25 campaign, one that will undoubtedly be stamped in his memory forever. Already a champion, the only thing left to permanently establish himself among hockey royalty was to break the most significant and arguably unattainable record in the league held by Wayne Gretzky: the league’s all-time leading goal scorer. On April 6, during the second period at UBS Arena against the New York Islanders, Ovi scored goal No. 895, passing the Great One. A momentous moment for him and beyond meaningful for D.C.
Once Ovi touched down in the DMV and went to work, hockey really took off around here — way before the records, hat tricks, and even the banner forever enshrined inside of Capital One Arena. Across the area, more rinks have popped up (and honestly, we still need more), and both youth and adult leagues are packed. Since Ovechkin’s rookie season in 2005-06, the NHL says hockey participation in the area has skyrocketed. The number of registered players has increased by 71% from approximately 13,000 to nearly 22,000. Men’s and women’s adult leagues have both experienced significant growth, and youth hockey is undergoing a major boom. Boys’ hockey saw a big bump, while girls’ participation nearly tripled, especially in Maryland.
Giant Food, Ovechkin Team Up to Give Back to D.C.
Even if catching the Capitals isn’t on your radar this season, you can guarantee seeing Ovi’s face in most supermarkets. Giant Food, the leading grocery chain in the D.C. region, teamed up with the eight-time All-Star on a new limited-edition cereal celebrating Ovi’s historic achievement. Ovi himself surprised a group of kids from the Fort Dupont Ice Arena on Tuesday by showing up at a local Giant in D.C. and personally serving them cereal, as well as participating in a Caps-themed hockey shooting exercise.
Ovi didn’t stop there — he swapped into a Giant uniform, cruised the aisles with a custom Caps shopping cart full of Ovi’s Great Crunch cereal, handed out gift cards, rang up shoppers’ purchases, and later rejoined the kids at the shooting cage, showing off a few goal-scoring tips for anyone brave enough to challenge his record. Even better, part of the proceeds made from the cereal, which retails for $2.99, go to Ovechkin’s pediatric cancer charity, THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer. Fans can snag their own box of Ovi’s Great Crunch exclusively at all 163 locations of Giant Food. This drop marks the second cereal collab between Giant and Ovechkin, following the wildly popular Ovi O’s back in 2019, which flew off shelves in just days.
“As a sponsor of the Washington Capitals for eight years, and the leading grocer proudly serving the Washington D.C. area for nearly 90 years, Giant Food is excited to once again honor Alex’s achievements and offer our shoppers – and the city’s sports fans – a fun moment to celebrate his incredible contributions to Washington D.C.,” Ira Kress, president of Giant Food said. “Shoppers will not only enjoy Ovi’s Great Crunch cereal but will also take pleasure in knowing that every box purchased supports Alex’s truly laudable dedication to ending pediatric cancer.”
If you weren’t already convinced of his D.C. dedication, back in 2006, Ovechkin started Ovi’s 8s to give underserved kids a chance to catch a Caps game. Since then, over 6,000 have been able to watch him play in person. He has also worked with the American Special Hockey Association (ASHA), hosting skate sessions and events for children with special needs, and in 2023, he covered ice time costs for ASHA programs nationwide.
The Capitals kick off the 2025–26 season at home against the Boston Bruins. With no indication he’s calling it a career anytime soon, all eyes remain on Alex Ovechkin as he enters Year 21 — still chasing milestones, still the face of D.C. hockey, and still the city’s ultimate GOAT until the next one arrives.
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