--- title: Alex Ovechkin - Gr8 Chase For Victory Over Cancer | 8th Hashtag Sports Awards description: Global awards recognizing excellence in fan engagement and celebrating creativity across sports marketing, media & entertainment image: https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Assets-AF-2025/lqrOdnjD-UOu711dB2I-file.jpg --- Alex Ovechkin - Gr8 Chase For Victory Over Cancer | 8th Hashtag Sports Awards [The 8th Annual Awards](https://www.hashtagsports.com/awards/shortlist-2026?hsLang=en) # Alex Ovechkin - GR8 Chase For Victory Over Cancer [Washington Capitals](https://www.nhl.com/capitals), [Alex Ovechkin](https://www.instagram.com/aleksandrovechkinofficial) ![Image](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Assets-AF-2025/lqrOdnjD-UOu711dB2I-file.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=lqrOdnjD-UOu711dB2I-file.jpg) Share [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hashtagsports.com%2Fawards%2Fshortlist-2026%2Falex-ovechkin-gr8-chase-for-victory-over-cancer) [** ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hashtagsports.com%2Fawards%2Fshortlist-2026%2Falex-ovechkin-gr8-chase-for-victory-over-cancer&text=Alex+Ovechkin+-+Gr8+Chase+For+Victory+Over+Cancer+%7C+8th+Hashtag+Sports+Awards) [** ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hashtagsports.com%2Fawards%2Fshortlist-2026%2Falex-ovechkin-gr8-chase-for-victory-over-cancer) ABOUT THIS ENTRY As he neared the National Hockey League’s all-time career goals record, Alex Ovechkin launched "[THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer](https://www.google.com/search?q=THE+GR8+CHASE+for+Victory+Over+Cancer&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS1034US1034&oq=victory+over+cancer+-+alex+ovechkin&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyCQgAEEUYORigATIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRirAjIHCAQQIRirAjIHCAUQIRiPAtIBCDQyNTBqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&mstk=AUtExfDl4gnRGiHOxNOGA6BXgsKNhvTK2Tt7cNJBrYF9uw_Li2UgF4qwUT5T_JNirRDTuLlo5Od4dGzga4KIWU2bAqgw3ToLbbIDLhIKBvmDjFtizzIxwUYdMfErebTtfBRbN7NLNWejjcYVfO4Lf81wYPS6JKLkpXXKzR6Xg_dNn_LBQQ4khDD9v9uzrWPBKz5ftrNaQEHSRHsXw6ITs7jJxqiS9f6QNb4PRLLknnf_xlUcnptm8n0Z7bCy39ZnvAjHUFgF9v2zTlUOzn40RzjRDUE2&csui=3&ved=2ahUKEwj2kZmE5IKTAxXEFFkFHdSUFZAQgK4QegQIARAD)," a campaign in partnership with the [V Foundation for Cancer Research](https://www.v.org/story/history-made/), [Hockey Fights Cancer](https://www.nhl.com/community/hockey-fights-cancer/), and the [Washington Capitals](https://donate.v.org/campaign/667859/donate) to fund pediatric cancer research. For the remainder of his NHL career, Ovechkin – now the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer - is donating funds for every goal he scores, with Monumental Sports & Entertainment matching the contributions to the V Foundation.    ![Image](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Assets-AF-2025/lqrOdnjD-UOu711dB2I-file.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=lqrOdnjD-UOu711dB2I-file.jpg) How does this represent "Excellence in Engagement"? This work sets a new benchmark by proving that athletic performance can fuel real-time philanthropy.  With the season long nature of the campaign continuing throughout Ovechkin’s career, it showed that sustained campaigns narratives can sometimes be better than one-offs.    The campaign was also extremely unique as it combined the efforts from the V Foundation NHL, NHLPA, Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals as part of Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation. There was also support from national broadcast partners in ESPN and ABC to embed the campaign as part of game broadcasts.  It is rare that many organizations align together for one cause.    This campaign sets the bar for how sports organizations can design impact campaigns in the modern era.  A priceless engagement metric is the smiles and families impacted by Ovechkin’s charitable efforts.    Objective The goal of the Gr8 Chase for Victory over Cancer was to transform a personal career milestone and arguably one of the biggest records in the NHL into a catalyst for social good, providing sustained fundraising and awareness for pediatric cancer research while engaging fans and leveraging partnerships to broaden its impact. The campaign specifically focuses on **pediatric cancer research funding** — channeling 100% of donations to the **V Foundation for Cancer Research** through a dedicated pediatric research grant. This emphasis recognizes how childhood cancer continues to be a major health challenge and uses Ovechkin’s platform to bring visibility and resources to that cause.  Strategy & Execution **THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer** was intentionally built to resonate with the modern sports fan — digitally native, socially engaged, and motivated by Ovechkin as purpose driven.  With how modern sports fan consume sports, this campaign naturally embedded philanthropy directly into that behavior.  The campaign was also approachable to all fans – encouraging fans to donate to **$8 or whatever they can** (a nod to Ovechkin’s jersey number).    The promotion of the campaign was done through in-game, broadcast and digital to meet fans where they are already are. There were also QR codes embedded into much of the promotion to make it as turnkey as possible for fans to reach the donation page.    With this campaign, the record meant so much off the ice.  Fans are also more likely to support athletes and teams that use their platforms to have impact.    Through different content pieces, such as having pediatric cancer patients share their own messages directly to Ovechkin – there was emotional storytelling at its core to connect to the audience and potentially increase donations.    ** Nominations ** - Best Engagement for Good **Organizations** - Alex Ovechkin - The V Foundation - NHLPA - NHL - Washington Capitals - Monumental Sports & Entertainment **Links** - [  Website ](https://donate.v.org/campaign/667859/donate) **Credits** **[ Amanda Tischler](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullivanamanda/) ** SVP, Marketing Washington Capitals **[ Megan Eichenberg](https://www.linkedin.com/in/megeic/) ** VP, Communications Washington Capitals **[ Sergey Kocharov](https://x.com/SergeyKocharov) ** SVP, Communications Washington Capitals **[ Caroline Potolicchio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-potolicchio-38942568/) ** Director - Fan Development Washington Capitals **[ James Heuser](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgheuser/) ** VP, Digital Washington Capitals **[ Rachel Segal](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rcsegal/) ** Group Vice President, Social Impact and Strategic Integration National Hockey League **[ Jena Starring](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jena-starring-42206b67/) ** Senior Director, Partnerships V Foundation **[ Melissa Ostrowski](https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaostrowski/) ** Assistant Director of Partnership Stewardship V Foundation **[ Eric Dwyer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericjohndwyer/) ** Strategic Planner and Rightsholder Relations National Hockey League **[ David Abrutyn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-abrutyn-2125b3/) ** Global Chief Business Officer CAA Hockey **[ Hunter Lochmann](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunter-lochmann-20188a/) ** CMO Monumental Sports and Entertainment **[ Aimee Brillhart](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunter-lochmann-20188a/) ** SVP, Productions Monumumental Sports and Entertainment **[ Andrew Wolfe](https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-wolfe-b2497797/) ** NHLPA Goals and Dreams Director NHLPA **[ Liz Pace](https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-wodatch-pace-2307824/) ** President, Monumental Sports Foundation Monumental Sports and Entertainment #### INSPIRED TO ENTER WORK? Entries to the 9th Hashtag Sports Awards will open in October 2026. Sign up below for announcements, case studies, podcasts, and the prestigious shortlist of nominations. [![GET ALERTS](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/834568/interactive-214928231544.png) ](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLJfyZgpKq3bX%2Bsdbt%2FP4fSSd%2FuaLxg%2BunDqgCR4gxBSA7Yp2gmQGPRsKSe0%2FCbCTgEz7M0nQNBIK%2FAPUD%2BEGsfu7LA7GCaVbDpurA1eFqrcFiZx%2FHk1H62L64yzAzj8TS3Cz%2F7hjTYpC0AmhZuEyoAU%2B5oApoIgltRXt4Z7AQdZykTVYo8PYCaORY4Yzo5%2B%2BV4Qdc2uqxM6&webInteractiveContentId=214928231544&portalId=834568&hsLang=en) × HASHTAG SPORTS AWARDS VOTE FOR THE BEST IN SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT ## Almost there! One more step and you're on the way to casting your votes. SIGN UP TO VOTE