Collectors, the Hockey HOF and memorabilia companies are “looking to” the Capitals and LW Alex Ovechkin as he approaches Hockey HOFer Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goals record, according to Liam Griffin of the WASHINGTON TIMES. The consensus is that Ovechkin “will receive the right of first refusal for the memorabilia.” Ovechkin has been “saving the pucks and sticks this season” and “flashing his signature gap-toothed smile in photos with them after games.” Ovechkin’s agent David Abrutyn said that “likely won’t change.” The 39-year-old has “kept every goal-scoring puck and stick from the past four seasons.” He said yesterday he will “put them in a museum.” Ovechkin has a “long-standing plan” to open his collection near his hometown in Moscow. The Russian’s collection of sticks and other memorabilia is “the stuff of legend in NHL circles.” It includes “hundreds of sticks from Ovechkin and Hall of Famers such as Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.” Representatives from the Hockey HOF “hope to get their hands on some artifact” from the record-breaking game. Ovechkin’s status as a collector “complicates matters, though.” Hockey HOF VP and curator Phil Pritchard said, “We have had talks with Alex; we have met with him.” He added, “We’ve talked with the Capitals as well, and they’re open to helping us any way they can.” Pritchard “was reticent” to put a price tag on the record-breaking puck or stick. Instead, he called it “priceless” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 3/17).
STUFF OF LEGENDS: WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY’s Jean Palmieri noted Fe, a licensed brand of the NHL owned by AW Change Corp., will “create a special apparel collection” for Ovechkin. The Capitals star’s name, nickname, image, likeness, replica signature and trademarked logo, “The Gr8 Chase,” are “all part of the deal.” Fe has created the Alex Ovechkin Capsule Collection that will include “hoodies, track jackets, reversible bombers, waffle Henleys, bonded fleece quarter-zips, and T-shirts” -- all “made from 92 percent to 100 percent recycled fabric at Fe’s solar-powered fabric mill and enhanced with digital printing technology.” The Ovechkin capsule is “expected to be offered on the Fe website and at select retail partners beginning this spring” (WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY, 3/17).
