My head cracked opened: NHL Awards Show 2009

Friday, November 13, 2009

NHL Awards Show 2009

The annual NHL awards show was held in Las Veags this year. Ovechkin was nominated for two awards the Lester B. Pearson Award (awarded to the most valuable player as voted by his peers) and the Hart Memorial Award (awarded to the most valuable player as voted by the NHLPA). He had already won the Rockey Richard Award (awarded to the player who scores the most goals in the season, and had won both the Hart and Pearson trophies last year.

Besides attending the Awards Show Ovechkin was promoting the game NHL 2K10 where he was selected to be on the cover of. He skated on synthetic ice while hooked up to motion detecting software to capture his movements. Ovechkin and forward Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks participated in the event. Video of skate for 2K10

Ovechkin also participated in a charity poker game sponsored by the World Series of Poker. He played Texas Hold Em' with ex NHLer Mats Sundin, ex NHL player and coach Eddie Olczyk, Jeremey Roenick of the San Jose Sharks. Also among those at the table were professional poker players who won the chance to compete as well.

All players nominated for an award were required to stay at The Palms hotel where the show would be held. During his free time Ovechkin could be spotted swimming in The Palms pools and hanging out with family and friends on the pool deck. Video of poker game and Ovechkin at the pool.

Since I was also conviently staying at The Palms as well, I got to meet lots of NHL players during my stay. The highlight had to be when I sat down at a table in The Palms for Blackjack and 3 hands in realized I was playing at a table with Zach Parise of the New Jersey Devils.