Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin celebrates Russian Heritage Night with amazing custom skates

Published Mar. 23, 2017 8:30 a.m. ET

Pete Blackburn

You don't often see hockey players break out funky footwear for a pregame fashion statement like in other sports, but Alex Ovechkin is ready to be a trendsetter.

The Capitals star winger will wear a pair of custom painted skates during warmups prior to the Blue Jackets game in Washington on Thursday. The skates were commissioned for Russian Heritage Night and will honor Ovechkin's home country, as well as his adopted one.

One of the skates will feature the Russian flag and St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, while the other skate will feature the United States flag and the U.S. Capitol building in Ovechkin's American home of Washington D.C.

Here's some additional info from UniWatch:

The paint job was executed by Nicholas "theheyymann" Avery and overseen by Napoleon "Polo" Kerber, a Buffalo duo that has attracted attention in recent months for the custom football cleats they've produced for an increasing number of NFL players. After ESPN.com ran a story on Avery and Kerber last November, they soon heard from Ovechkin's representatives, who expressed interest in having them do a custom skate job for the Caps star.

Ovechkin is believed to be the first NHL player to wear custom painted skates, but it's certainly not his first identifiable fashion statement. The Caps star has dared to be different with the yellow laces he wears on a nightly basis, as well as the mirrored visor he used to rock before it was outlawed by the league.

The worn skates will then be auctioned off, with proceeds benefitting the American Special Hockey Association — an organization Ovechkin has long been involved with.

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Alex Ovechkin

Washington Capitals

National Hockey League