A Washington Capitals’ defenceman scored some major son-in-law points over the weekend.
Capitals defenceman and former Calgary Hitmen star Karl Alzner was instrumental in having a signed Alexander Ovechkin jersey delivered to the Flames Alumni Game and Gala on Saturday night at the Centennial Centre in Okotoks.
The donation came at the request of Alzner’s soon-to-be mother-in-law Yvonne Small, one of the gala’s attendees. The jersey was auctioned off to raise funds for the Dunbow Recreation Centre to be built near Heritage Heights School.
The jersey was eventually sold at the silent auction for $500.
“I don’t ask Karl to sign or get things signed very often… but this is a facility that’s going to be built in an area that my family will use (and) benefit from,” Small said.
After looking over the donation “wish list” prior to the event, Small recalled she saw a signed Alexander Ovechkin jersey on the list.
Knowing she had a special connection to the Capitals’ star, Small contacted her daughter who then mobilized Alzner into action.
“I just talked to my daughter and said we’re going to be going to this gala… she said ‘No problem’” Small recalled. “(Karl) grabbed the jersey and handed it to Ovechkin and said, “It’s for my future mother-in-law’.”
While the Capitals remain embroiled in a tough playoff series with the New York Rangers, Small said the players are always glad to donate their time and signature to a worthy cause.
In the age of EBay and sports memorabilia, the fact the jersey would be auctioned for the benefit of an entire community was comforting to both Alzner and Ovechkin, according to Small.
“They get asked to sign things a lot and when they see things on Ebay for sale it takes away from being able to provide somebody with something that is very special to them,” Small explained.
With Small planning to travel to Washington this week to visit Alzner, she said she would pass along a picture of the winning bidder to Ovechkin so he would know how much his winning jersey had raised and who ended up receiving the item.
“They like to know that something as simple as signing a jersey has gone to a good cause like that,” she said.
As a resident of the MD of Foothills, the Dunbow Recreation Facility remains a cause of utmost importance to Small.
With a son playing in the Okotoks Minor Hockey Association, the need for additional facilities in the area is a cause near and dear to her heart.
“I’m willing to ask for something that I think is special,” Small said.
