Coach Neal Henderson, who founded the club in 1977, said getting to skate, pass and shoot with Ovechkin "is a special gift" for the players during the holiday season.
"Kids get a great kick out of working with him," the 79-year-old said. "They get on a friendly basis with him. I tell them all, 'This is how the pros get started.' Hockey players are different from a lot of other sports. They'll put their skates on and come over to the rink and skate with the guys. Very seldom do you see a basketball player go to a park and start working with kids. He's got to have it so that a [public relations] person can be involved in it. Same thing with football.
"But a hockey player, he'll go to an ice rink and help some kid out that can't stand up on his skates or he'll talk to a kid. He doesn't even have to know his name but he'll be there and that kid will remember him."
Wearing a red Capitals tracksuit and a Santa Claus hat, Ovechkin, 31, appeared to enjoy going through the drills and sharing some tips with the players almost as much as they did.
"I was a little kid once too and my dream was to skate with some NHL players or some guys who I knew and I grew up watching," Ovechkin said. "It's a great opportunity for me and for them."
All of the Cannons players received an autographed, souvenir stick, but Eric Bennett, 15, was particularly fortunate. When Ovechkin was finished skating with the kids, he signed the stick he was using and gave it to Bennett.
"I asked the guys, 'Who's the best player out there?'" Ovechkin said. "They said it was [Bennett], so I gave him my stick and I hope he's going to be a professional athlete and is going to have fun."
Bennett, who began playing hockey when he was 6, appreciated the gift and that Ovechkin took the time to help him and his teammates.
"He's just so great and to know that somebody great cares about players," Bennett said, "and he gave me his stick and I didn't even ask for it. It just felt amazing."
