Alexander Ovechkin is a Russian professional hockey player in the NHL for the Washington Capitals and plays the position of Left Wing. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy for the rookie of the year. Rocket Richard Trophy (2x), Art Ross Trophy, Lester B. Pearson Award (3x), Hart Memorial Trophy (2x) are other awards he won. He is the only player to win all four awards since the Rocket Richard Trophy’s inception in 1999. He also won a gold medal with the national Russian team in the Olympics. He has been on the all First All-Star Team for five seasons. He currently is 26 and wears the number 8. He has been sponsored, had at least 24 endorsements, and has been the spokesman or has appeared in commercials for them.
In 2011, he signed a 6 year deal with Bauer that covers on-ice equipment: skates, sticks, gloves, helmets and pads. It was asked if Alex was going to wear a Bauer hat during a press conference because the NHL has a deal with Reebok which would be culture jamming. He did use Bauer for the first 3 years of his career. Bauer and Ovechkin are also donating 108 full sets of youth hockey equipment to the Ketter Capitals Iceplex and Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association in the DC area, along with another 108 sets to the Dynamo Hockey School in Moscow as well as a car with his likeness on it. In 2010, he inked a multiyear deal with Gillette, but the commercials will be run in Europe initially. He signed a long term deal with Nike this year. He will be supporting apparel, footwear, performance apparel, casual wear, accessories and other elements of the Nike family of products.
Alex had a deal with CCM hockey but after a 6 year run left with unhappiness and did commercials for them using ‘head shot’ appearances for products like crazy light skates. He did have a deal with Reebok when he was with CCM, doing commercials for the zigtech/edge shoes along with other athletes. He has done commercials for Comcast Sports Net, Versus, TNC, NBC, HBO 24/7 series and for his own team. He also did a commercial for Sportscenter. He is a spokesman for Eastern Motors doing commercials while singing and trying to play football. He has his face on a candy bar by Cadbury/Kraft Foods called Mr. Big Candy Bar and a doing a commercial for them as well. He is a spokesman for Capital One Bank shooting pucks in the commercials and being alongside Donavan McNabb. Some of the NHL commercials are a part of a series called NHL ones-Rivalry where he does stuff to Sidney Crosby and vice versa.
He has a sponsorship with Verizon Wireless for NHL Game Center, with commercials where he is playing and having post game talks with two different words: “NOvetchtrick” & “OvechTrick”. He also had the chance to grace the cover of 2k’s Hockey for NHL 2k10. Commercials included other NHL players, along with highlights of him from the video game as well as a funny series of Hockey Moms who are obsessed with him. They even got to play him online. He has a deal with Coca-Cola to hype an energy drink. The surprising ones have been Energizer, Hair Cuttery, Upper Deck Trading cards, and Ferrari. He signed an exclusive worldwide deal with IMG, the premier global sports, media and entertainment company. IMG has been the reason why he received deals with Nike and Bauer etc. in the most recent years.
He also has appeared in a commercial for sportsjerseyscanda.com and Elite Hockey. He also participated in a commercial welcoming John Wall to Washington. There is a documentary on his life also, called “Alex Ovechkin The GR8 DVD”. He also appeared in a Russian rap video where he raps and flips the double birdie.