(Photos by Caps Outsider)
Fans were definitely rocking the red Saturday as the Capitals hosted the Florida Panthers, but they were also rocking the lavender. The soft pastel is the official color for Hockey Fights Cancer, 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.
During warm-ups, Caps Players wore one-of-a-kind lavender jerseys that were auctioned off for the charity. The coaching staff and broadcast crew also wore official Hockey Fights Cancer ties and pocket squares. Caps alumnus, former NHL right winger, John Druce joined a Make-A-Wish child for a ceremonial puck drop, and Make-A-Wish children welcomed players onto the ice for warm-ups. Druce’s daughter, Courtney, recently lost a lengthy battle with leukemia.
To support Hockey Fights Cancer Night, fans had the opportunity to join in the spirit of giving by participating in a variety of ways:
*Fans could purchase official HFC Lapel pins for $10 each. All proceeds will be donated to the 2016 #CapsFightCancer initiative.
*Many fans downloaded their own Hockey Fights Cancer sign to show support at the game. Some took a photo with their sign and tagged it on social media with #CapsFightCancer and #HockeyFightsCancer.
*Fans had the opportunity to bid on this year’s Hockey Fights Cancer Night Warm-up Jerseys, Hats, Pucks, and more, all through Handbid! All proceeds go to this year’s charitable beneficiaries: Make-A-Wish, Hope for Henry, Flashes of Hope, and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
*A wide variety of official 2016 Hockey Fights Cancer merchandise was available at the Verizon Center Team Store.
*The Caps teamed up with Ellie’s Hats, a local organization that collects new hats to donate to kids who are battling cancer and going through chemotherapy treatments. The organization was founded in honor of Ellie, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the spring of 2013 prior to entering kindergarten. That fall, she lost most of her hair and wore hats to school each day, expressing her personality through her hat selection. Fans visited the Ellie’s Hat table to donate a hat. Each person that donated a hat received a limited edition Hockey Fights Cancer rally towel and a voucher for 10% off at the Verizon Team Store. For more information about Ellie’s Hats go to www.ellieshats.org.
As part of the HFC campaign, each Caps player was paired with a Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic participant. The lavender jerseys they wore during warm-ups had the nameplate of their Make-A-Wish child. Video testimonials of the players reading the biographies of their wish child partner were released daily on WashingtonCaps.com/CapsFightCancer through Nov. 5. Head Coach Barry Trotz and Caps owner Ted Leonsis also participated in this event.
The Caps also hosted a Hockey Fights Cancer skate with to support Flashes of Hope, Hope for Henry, Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic and Pancreatic Action Network at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on Friday, November 4.
In addition to the opportunity to support such a worthy cause, fans were treated to an awesome Caps 4-2 victory over the Panthers and a night of friendship and fun. To top it off, the Caps 2016 HFC fundraising campaign made $125,605.
For more information about Hockey Fights Cancer, please visit hockeyfightscancer.com.
