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IMG Signs Hockey superstar Alex Ovechkin

New York, NY – (Marketwire – Nov 2, 2009) – IMG Worldwide, the leading global sports, media and entertainment company, today announced that it has signed hockey superstar Alex Ovechkin, for exclusive worldwide management, sponsorship, licensing and marketing representation.

Ovechkin, the 24-year-old Washington Capitals left wing, is one of the most talented and exciting players in the game today. Since bursting onto the scene in 2005, he has taken the NHL by storm, winning the Hart Memorial Trophy for Most Valuable Player for the past two seasons. He has also won the Lester B. Pearson Award for 2008 and 2009, naming him MVP as voted by his fellow players. He is only the fourth player in history to score over 200 goals the first four years of his career, he joined the hockey icon Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Mike bossy. In July of this year, he was named "Official Messenger" in 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

"Surely we are pleased to welcome Alex to the global team with IMG," said David Abrutyn, IMG's Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Global Consulting. "He is clearly one of the greatest athletes of the world and one of the NHL's brightest stars. His charismatic personality and electrifying play will make him one of the most sought after athletes for companies and brands to grow their business. We are looking forward to working with Alex and his family, the NHL Capitals and Ovechkin to build brand and the game of hockey in the world. "

"As one of the most exciting players the game of hockey has seen, Alex has captured the imagination of fans around the world and was well on its way to establishing himself as one of the great world sports icon, "said Brad Pelletier, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of IMG Canada." The excitement and personality he brings to the game is great not only for hockey, but also for his personal brand, we look forward to working with him to be in the world. "

Pelletier and Abrutyn will manage IMG's global support team on Ovechkin's business.

"I am very happy to be part of the family IMG," Ovechkin said. "It is an honor to join the list of some of the iconic athletes in the world that represent the IMG. I'm excited to have them in the handling of off-ice aspects of the business of my career. "

Ovechkin, the son of Mikhail Ovechkin, a former professional soccer player, and Tatiana Ovechkin, a two-time Olympic Gold medalist in the Soviet basketball team, was born in Moscow in 1985. Ovechkin enjoyed an outstanding junior career where at age 17 he became the youngest player to ever play and score for the Russian National Team. He subsequently was named Captain of the Russian National Junior team at the age of 18 and 19 was named to the Russian National team for 2004 World Cup of Hockey, The youngest player in the tournament.

He was the first overall draft choice in 2004 NHL Entry Draft, going to the Washington Capitals. He led the rookies 2005-2006 NHL on goals, points, power play goals and Shots and was named to the NHL First All-Star Team, the first rookie to receive the honor of 15 years. Then He finished the season received the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the best the NHL's rookie.

Following the 2008-2009 season he was awarded his fourth consecutive Kharlamov Trophy, honoring the best Russian NHL player as voted by other Russian NHL players. He finished the 2007-2008 season the NHL leader in points (112) and goals (65), the winning Art Ross trophy and Rocket Richard trophy, respectively. This is the first time in 41 time that a left-winger led the NHL in points and established an NHL record for goals by a left wing.

Ovechkin finished 2008-09 NHL season with 56 goals, winning his second Rocket Richard trophy in as many years, joining Jarome Iginla and Pavel Bure as the third player win the award twice, and the second player after Bure (2000-2001) to win the award in back-to-back time.

About IMG Sports & Entertainment

Operating in 30 countries, IMG Sports & Entertainment's diverse businesses include: product and brand licensing, consulting services, event media ownership and management, university marketing, and licensing, fashion events and models representation; golf course design, and client representation in golf, tennis, broadcasting, speakers, European football, rugby, cricket, motor sports, coaching, Olympic and action sports. IMG Academies are the world's largest, multi-sport training and education facilities, Delivering world-class training experience of more than 12,000 junior, university, adult and professional athletes each year. More information is available at www.imgworld.com.

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