IMG signs ice hockey’s brightest young star

02 November 2009 | Posted in Agencies, Ice Hockey | By Adam Fraser

Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals and Russia ice hockey star, has signed to IMG Worldwide for management, sponsorship, licensing and marketing representation.

Ovechkin, who was named as the first official ambassador of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games earlier this year, has been named the National Hockey League's most valuable player for the last two seasons, as well as being named MVP by his fellow NHL players in both 2008 and 2009. The 24-year-old left wing is only the fourth player in history to score more than 200 goals in the first four years of his career. Financial terms of the deal were not released, but it is thought it could be worth a seven-figure sum over the next four years.

"We are very pleased to welcome Alex to the global team at IMG," said David Abrutyn, IMG's senior vice president and managing director of global consulting. "He is clearly one of the world's greatest athletes and one of the NHL's brightest stars.

"His electrifying play and charismatic personality will make him one of the most sought after athletes for companies and brands to grow their business. We are looking forward to working with Alex and his family, the Capitals and NHL to build the Ovechkin brand and the game of hockey around the world."

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Ovechkin added: "I am very happy to become part of the IMG family. It is an honor to join the list of some of the world's iconic athletes that IMG represents. I'm excited to have them handling the off-ice business aspects of my career."