NHL Implements New Plan to Stop Scammers From Selling Fake Alex Ovechkin Memorabilia
Photo credit: © Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The Capitals organization and the NHL will be taking extra security measures to ensure that Alexander Ovechkin's game-worn equipment remains authentic.
Alex Ovechkin is one goal away from hockey immortality. He scored goals No. 893 and 894 in the Washington Capitals' 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, drawing even with Wayne Gretzky for the NHL record in career goals.
Each piece of equipment Ovechkin used to play the game, from jersey to yellow-laced skates, can become a piece of history, bound for his future Moscow museum, the Hockey Hall of Fame, Capital One Arena, or private collection.
In trying to maintain the integrity of the artifacts, the Capitals' equipment staff and even the team's security chief are going the extra mile to document and save it all.
Ovi will be wearing a different jersey every period
Monumental Sports Network's Tarik El-Bashir detailed that Ovechkin is wearing a different jersey each period so that each one can be duly tracked and authenticated.
"There's a small army of Capitals employees, four equipment managers, two PR reps and the chief of security who have a very important job every night and that is when Alex Ovechkin scores a goal, they have to go get his jersey, his stick, the puck and they label everything," El-Bashir explained.
"So, for example, if Alex scores in the first period tonight, in-between periods he will take off his jersey and change jerseys, that jersey will then be autographed by the two teammates that assisted on that goal and that jersey will be retired, he will wear a new one."
"So, for example, if Alex scores in the first period tonight, in-between periods he will take off his jersey and change jerseys, that jersey will then be autographed by the two teammates that assisted on that goal and that jersey will be retired, he will wear a new one."
Fans might have noticed he wasn't sporting his first-period sweater for his intermission interview, all part of the rotation process already underway.
El-Bashir also suggested that deciding where memorabilia goes may raise some behind-the-scenes controversy. Until then, it is not known how those choices will be determined.
"On the night when he scores 895, the team is going to use these stickers right here, these are three dimensional, these are fraud proof," El-Bashir continued, holding up a sheet of navy blue and red stickers with subtle raisings on them.
"They actually say, 'Authenticated by Brock Miles, head equipment manager of the Capitals.' Brock will then put these stickers on every piece of equipment that they want to save, gloves, the helmet, skates, stick, even the puck, almost anything.
So, these have little chips inside so there's no chance of someone saying, 'Hey, that was from that night,' without this sticker on it."
"They actually say, 'Authenticated by Brock Miles, head equipment manager of the Capitals.' Brock will then put these stickers on every piece of equipment that they want to save, gloves, the helmet, skates, stick, even the puck, almost anything.
So, these have little chips inside so there's no chance of someone saying, 'Hey, that was from that night,' without this sticker on it."
The Capitals visit the Islanders in Belmont, New York, on Sunday. Should Ovechkin score No. 895 at UBS Arena, a crew of pros will be present to preserve each keepsake of the record-breaking goal.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 6 | 84 ANSWERS NHL Implements New Plan to Stop Scammers From Selling Fake Alex Ovechkin Memorabilia Will Alex Ovechkin hit 1,000 goals in his career? | ||
| yes | 8 | 9.5 % |
| No | 76 | 90.5 % |
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