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Throughout the month of February, the Washington Capitals have been celebrating Hockey is for Everyone™ month. For the past 18 years, the NHL has designated February as Hockey is for Everyone™ month to recognize grassroots hockey and the game’s growing diversity. This unique program teaches children essential life skills and the core values of hockey: Commitment, perseverance and teamwork. Although children are the main focus, the initiative also supports hockey programs that assist disabled military personnel and other adults with special needs.
Plenty of excited Caps fans braved the wind, rain, and tornado warnings to be on hand Wednesday when the Caps hosted Hockey is for Everyone™ Night. The Caps took on the Montreal Canadiens at Verizon Center and a variety of local youth hockey programs joined in the festivities throughout the game.
The Washington Ice Dogs of Special Hockey Washington, thrilled the crowd during the second intermission with an entertaining shoot out contest. Special Hockey Washington was founded in 1999 to give children and young adults developmental disabilities the opportunity to play ice hockey. Our buddy Ovie the Bulldog is the official mascot of the Ice Dogs. Stay tuned for more info about the Ice Dogs 2nd Annual Washington Ice Dog-a-Thon to be held at The Gardens Ice House in Laurel, MD on April 24th.
The Capitals support of Hockey is for Everyone™ included the following events:
Feb. 4: Salute to the Military Night
Feb. 12: Caps’ wives, alumni, players, Red Rockers and Slapshot visited Children’s National Health System. They helped the kids make Valentines and brought out a lot of smiles.
Feb. 15: Caps players visited Fort Dupont Ice Arena. They skated with the kids kids and provided instruction for the Henderson’s Fort Dupont Cannons hockey program, which is the oldest diversity hockey program in the country.
Feb. 19: For the sixth-consecutive year the Capitals teamed up with children’s charity Dreams for Kids to host an Extreme Recess Hockey Clinic at Kettler Capitals Iceplex for children with physical and developmental disabilities. Washington Capitals players skated and played hockey with more than 100 participants.
Feb. 19-21: The Capitals participated in USA Hockey’s Hockey Weekend Across America. On Friday, Feb.19, fans were encouraged to wear their Capitals jersey to school and work during “Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey Day”. February 20 was “Try Hockey Day.” Hundreds of rinks nationwide hosted Try Hockey For Free clinics. Sunday, Feb. 21 was “Celebrate Local Hockey Hero’s Day,” which encourages all involved in the game to develop ways to honor their local hockey heroes.
For more information about Hockey is For Everyone visit the NHL’s site.
