Why did Alex Ovechkin so want to win a free car at All-Star Game?

Alex Ovechkin really wanted to get one of the Accords that Honda was giving away at the NHL All-Star Game.

He wasn't saying why, but he was pushing hard to be one of the last two players picked by All-Star captains Nick Foligno and Jonathan Toews, because that meant one of the cars. But the Washington Capitals wing went third from last, so no car.

Ovechkin also could have won a car if he'd been All-Star MVP, but he recorded three assists and no goals on Sunday, and the honor went to the Columbus Blue Jackets' Ryan Johansen.

However, Honda officials, who had seen during Friday's All-Star draft telecast how Ovechkin was lobbying to be one of the final two, then learned why Ovechkin so desired a car. And so he won one anyway.

Ovechkin didn't want another car to drive around in -- he wanted to donate it to the Washington Ice Dogs, a hockey team for children with developmental disabilities. It's a follow-up to Ovechkin's big night out in October with Ann Schaab, a 10-year-old girl with Down syndrome who asked Ovechkin out on a date. The two not only ended up sharing sushi -- a favorite for both of them -- but Ann also got to spend most of the day around her hockey crush, meeting him at the Caps' practice facility, getting a ride with him to the Verizon Center and then watching the Caps game that night.

So Ovechkin decided he would try to win a Honda and give it to the Ice Dogs, except only a few people in his inner circle knew that's why he was lobbying so hard for an Accord.

"Everybody felt like I just want a car to drive it," he told The Washington Post. "Obviously I have lots of cars. Of course, it kind of show time, do it for charity as well. Some maybe haters or somebody going to think I just need a car, but we do it for charity and good stuff."

And thanks to Honda and Ovechkin, good stuff is happening for the Ice Dogs.