CCM's Standout Alexander Ovechkin Sets the Pace! To Celebrate His Talent, Fans Can Participate in 'The CCM Ovechkin Nickname Contest'.

MONTREAL -- With all the attention CCM's new star player is receiving these days, Alexander Ovechkin and CCM are reaching out to fans to help him find a cool nickname. The young Washington Capitals recruit, who is taking the hockey world by storm with his agility and talent on the ice, is said to be following in the footsteps of such hockey distinguished as The Rocket, The Great One, The Magnificent and many other sports legends whose nicknames remain forever engraved  in our memories.

Fans of Alexander Ovechkin can get in the game from February 28th to March 12th by registering on www.ccmsports.com and submitting a nickname they think best reflects this athlete's individuality, both in his style and performance. After a careful review of all submissions, Alexander Ovechkin himself will select his Top 5 favourite nicknames. Fans will then be able to vote online for the nickname they prefer among Ovechkin's selection.

Alexander Ovechkin, who plays with CCM Vector stick and skates, will personally give the participant who comes up with the best nickname a set of hockey equipment similar to the one he uses when he scores his unbelievable goals. The winner's name will be announced during a press conference on March 31, 2006, highlighting CCM's new line of Vector products. In addition to becoming the ambassador of Alexander Ovechkin's nickname, and receiving a complete new set of CCM Vector equipment, the winner will have the opportunity to spend time with his idol during a special "meet n' greet", which will take place later on this season.

To inspire participants, here are a few facts(1) that speak volumes
about Alexander Ovechkin:

- Ovechkin was born September 17, 1985 in Moscow, Russia
- Played with the Moscow Dynamo from 2001 to 2005
- Started his pro career with six goals, four assists in eight-game
  points streak
- Represented Russia three times at the World Junior Championship
  (2003-05), twice at the World Championships (2004, 2005) and at the
  2004 World Cup of Hockey, and was named to the 2006 Russian Olympic
  Team
- Led Russia with seven goals, 11 assists at the 2005 World Junior
  Championship in North Dakota
- He has had four points in a game twice
- Tied the franchise record for most points in a season by a rookie
- Was named NHL Offensive Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month
  for January, just the third player to do so
- Set the Capitals rookie record for goals with 34 and is two points
  shy of breaking the Caps rookie record for points
- Was named NHL Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending
  Jan. 22, as well as the period ending January 1, the only rookie to
  earn that honour this season
- NHL Rookie of the Month for December
- His seven multiple-goal games are tied for the most by an NHL
  rookie since Jason Arnott had eight in 1993-94

Celebrate this young hockey star's talent by telling us how you would like him to be remembered forever. Get in the game! All details available at www.ccmsports.com.

About CCM

CCM(R) is the flagship brand of The Hockey Company, a division of Reebok International. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with operations in Europe and the United States, The Hockey Company is the world's largest designer, marketer and manufacturer of hockey equipment and apparel, under three of the world's most recognized hockey brand names: CCM(R), KOHO(R) and JOFA(R). The Hockey Company is a world leader in the design and innovation of apparel, skates, sticks and protective equipment products.

(1) NHL.com, the official Web site of the National Hockey League.

MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE: http://www.ccnmatthews.com/em/1072