The 2013-14 NHL season marks the 15th anniversary of Hockey Fights Cancer. The NHL and NHLPA marked this milestone with its annual Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month campaign in October. During the month, all 30 NHL Clubs enlisted its players, management and fans to join the fight as they designated one home game as their Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night.

The National Hockey League-MeiGray Group Game-Worn Jersey Authentication Program is proud to offer fans and collectors across the globe the opportunity to own a piece of history ... the actual stick used during the pre-game ceremonial face-off by #8, Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals on October 19, 2013 when the Washington Capitals faced the Columbus Blue Jackets during the Washington Capitals' Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night.

"OVIE 8" has been printed on the shaft. This stick was used for the ceremonial face-off. The handle has been taped with lavender colored tape. The number "8" has been written on the front of the handle in black sharpie marker. The blade has been taped with lavender colored tape. Ovechkin has signed the blade of the stick.

This Bauer Total One NXG stick, registered into the MeiGray Game-Worn Jersey Authentication Program as number 148365, was used by Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. It was then autographed by Ovechkin after the game. The estimated value of the stick for tax purposes is $500.

A portion* of the proceeds from this auction will benefit Hockey Fights Cancer. Hockey Fights Cancer is an initiative founded in December 1998 by the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players' Association to raise money and awareness for hockey's most important fight. To date, through the NHL's US and Canadian charitable foundations, more than $12.8 million has been raised under the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative to support national and local cancer research institutions, children's hospitals, player charities and local cancer organizations. The Hockey Fights Cancer program is supported by NHL Member Clubs, NHL Alumni, the NHL Officials' Association, Professional Hockey Trainers and Equipment Managers, corporate marketing partners, broadcast partners and fans throughout North America.

On behalf of the NHLPA, NHL and Hockey Fights Cancer we would like to thank you for your generous participation and support of this worthy cause.

The MeiGray Group Game-Worn Jersey Authentication Program individually numbers, security-tags and markets the game-worn jerseys at meigray.com for 9 NHL clubs: Boston, Colorado, Dallas, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Nashville, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Washington.

MeiGray has partnered with the NHL since October 2002 in the NHL-MGG Game-Worn Jersey Authentication Program. Game-worn jerseys of the 22 participating clubs from 2002-03 through 2005-06 can be found at nhlgameworn.com.

Since its introduction in October 2002, the NHL-MGG Game-Worn Jersey Authentication Program has donated more than 3,300 game-worn jerseys to its member teams and their charitable foundations throughout the United States and Canada.

* 81% of the gross proceeds of each sale under this auction will be donated to the NHL's charitable foundations toward the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative. For US federal income tax purposes, the deductibility of your purchase is limited to the excess of the amount paid over the value of the item. For Canadian tax purposes, a charitable tax receipt may not be issued for the item due to the nature of the merchandise. Therefore, please consult your tax advisor for details regarding the deductibility of your purchase. Hockey Fights Cancer is a program of the National Hockey League Foundation in the United States and the NHL Foundation in Canada. The National Hockey League Foundation is a US private foundation that is exempt from Federal income taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The National Hockey League Foundation is located at 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10036. A copy of the latest annual report can be obtained from the National Hockey League Foundation or from the Office of the New York Attorney General by writing the Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. The National Hockey League Foundation has made contributions to other organizations, and a list of all organizations that have received contributions during the past twelve months may be obtained from the National Hockey League Foundation. The NHL Foundation is a Canadian federally registered charity with an address at 1800 McGill College Avenue, Suite 2600, Montreal, QC, H3A 3J6. Its registration number is 889862041RR0001.