Fatima Al Ali, the UAE women’s national ice hockey team player who has made waves for her stick-handling skills, had her dream come true this week as she travelled to the US to meet the Washington Capitals and her favourite hockey player, Alex Ovechkin.

She had been spotted by Capitals legend Peter Bondra when he was on a goodwill trip to the UAE last year. Bondra was so impressed with Fatima’s abilities that he had promised her tickets to a Capitals game if she was ever in America, but the team managed to go one better, partnering with Etihad Airways to give Fatima a dream trip.

Fatima was evidently awestruck while meeting Ovechkin:

But the 26-year-old showed she could hold her own even with the best team in the NHL this year.

Capitals owner Ted Leonsis was suitably impressed, just as Bondra had been.

As for Fatima, it’s fair to say she enjoyed her time in Washington.