September 29, 2016

PHOTOS: Washington Capitals Practice, March 28

March 29, 2013 by

Dave and I are back in DC for a visit so we went over to Kettler Iceplex on Thursday, March 28 to watch the Washington Capitals practice. The last time we saw the Caps on the ice in person was in September before the lockout. We’re looking forward to seeing a few games at Verizon Center in the next couple of weeks!

There was a scary moment when Alex Ovechkin left the ice after catching a puck with his chin. He didn’t return to practice and tweeted photos from the doctor’s office before and after the 22 stitches. Ouch.

Here are a handful of photos from practice. It was great to take hockey photos again! As always, please feel free to comment on the post. I really appreciate feedback. Thanks.

This is what hockey fans do on their spring break! - Washington Capitals practice at Kettler, 3/28/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

This is what hockey fans do on their spring break! – Washington Capitals practice at Kettler, 3/28/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

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Filed Under: Caps/NHL Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

CAPS: Fifth Season of Caps Red Line

March 2, 2013 by

CRL_Geico logoFifth Season of Caps Red Line to Debut on Feb. 25 on Monumental Network
Emmy-award winning program to be broadcast on NHL Network-US beginning March 3

ARLINGTON, Va. – Caps Red Line (CRL) presented by GEICO will debut its fifth season on Monumental Network (monumentalnetwork.com) on Monday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m.

CRL is a fast-paced, behind-the-scenes look at the Washington Capitals. A new episode will air every Monday on Monumental Network at 2 p.m. through April 22. Each episode will also be replayed on NHL Network-US beginning March 3 at 6 p.m.

Returning for another season with CRL is Elliot Segal from DC101’s Elliot in the Morning, Professor Lou Bloomfield, Ph.D., and host Guerin Austin.

The season premiere features fan favorite “Cruisin’ presented by Pepsi Next®” with Mike Ribeiro, Forces of Hockey presented by Inova Blood Donor Services hosted by Prof. Lou Bloomfield, Ph.D. and “Professor” Troy Brouwer and Elliot’s Take with Elliot Segal from Elliot in the Morning.

CRL won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Program Achievement for Sports – Programming Series, by the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS-NCCB) in 2010 and 2011.

Previous seasons of the show are available on the Caps Red Line webpage on WashingtonCaps.com and the Red Line Channel on Caps365.

The Monday, Feb. 25 episode features:

Cruisin’ presented by Pepsi Next®
Take a ride with first-year Capital Mike Ribeiro in his Bentley. Ribeiro discusses moving his family to Northern Virginia following his trade from the Dallas Stars this summer, and teaming up with captain Alex Ovechkin as an incentive to convince his children to move to Washington, D.C. Ribeiro also chats about his involvement with the local community as he visits the Rita Bright Family and Youth Center in Washington, D.C., for a Capitals Hockey School program.

X’s and O’s presented by SUBWAY® Restaurants
Assistant coaches Tim Hunter and Calle Johannson break down the saucer pass and show how it’s a part of the offensive rush.

GEICO All Access
Go behind the scenes with the Capitals players and general manager George McPhee during their visit to the Canadian Embassy for the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. The group discusses the Canadian ‘delicacies’ and what an honor it was to watch a once-in-a-lifetime historical event.

Forces of Hockey presented by Inova Blood Donor Services
Hosted by Professor Lou Bloomfield, Ph.D. and “Professor” Troy Brouwer
Professor Lou and Professor Brouwer discuss the importance of one-timers and the science behind the quick reacting and highly effective method of shooting the puck.

Elliot’s Take On…
Hosted by Elliot of DC 101’s Elliot in the Morning
Elliot Segal, host of Elliot in the Morning, gives viewers a behind the scenes look at the Capitals Fan Appreciation Event and open practice at Verizon Center. Segal helped out a fan with his original Rod Langway stick, enjoyed the free concessions and took to the ice to ask the Caps players the hardest hitting questions, including one that led to a now infamous dance by Troy Brouwer.

Original show listings dates and times on MonumentalNetwork.com:
Monday, Feb. 25 2 p.m.
Monday, March 4 2 p.m.
Monday, March 11 2 p.m.
Monday, March 18 2 p.m.
Monday, March 25 2 p.m.
Monday, April 1 2 p.m.
Monday, April 8 2 p.m.
Monday, April 15 2 p.m.
Monday, April 22 2 p.m.

Filed Under: Beyond the Game Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Photo Gallery: Washington Capitals present Hockey ‘n’ Heels 2013

February 20, 2013 by

Thanks to DSP fan contributors Katie Lucas and Manda Kowalczyk, please enjoy the following photo gallery of this year’s Hockey ‘n’ Heels event the Washington Capitals hosted at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.

calle jo

Caps assistant coach Calle Johansson (a defenseman) gave faceoff tips. (photo courtesy K. Lucas)

crabb and hunter

Joey Crabb and assistant coach Tim Hunter gave lessons in shooting the puck. (photo courtesy K. Lucas)

crabb

Gratutitous shot of Joey Crabb. (photo courtesy K. Lucas)

kundra and katie

Rookie Tomas Kundratek shows Katie how to pass on the backhand. (photo courtesy K. Lucas)

kundra

Tomas Kundratek, presented without comment. (photo courtesy K. Lucas)

locker

The eloquent Craig Laughlin, telling a surely riviting story. (photo courtesy K. Lucas)

wolski

Wolski showing a guest the finer points of a wrist shot. (photo courtesy K. Lucas)

manda-locker

That Locker sure is the excitable one, eh? (photo courtesy M. Kowalczyk)

manda-beagle

Jay Beagle, getting ready to pose for pictures. (photo courtesy M. Kowalcyzk)

manda-crabb

Okay, here’s another one of Crabb. (photo courtesy M. Kowalczyk)

manda-ladies in the locker

The group got a locker room tour. (photo courtesy M. Kowalczyk)

manda-hugs

Manda and friend pose with Kundratek. (photo courtesy M. Kowalczyk)

Filed Under: Beyond the Game, Caps/NHL Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

CAPS: Washington Capitals Alum Calle Johansson Hosts Hockey School

January 8, 2013 by

Capitals Assistant Coach Calle Johansson Schools Alexandria Students on Hockey

ARLINGTON, Va. – Prior to becoming a Washington record holder in points and assists by a defenseman, Washington Capitals assistant coach Calle Johansson learned the basics of hockey playing the game in a parking lot with his father.

Responding to questions from a group of 160 third- through -eighth grade Blessed Sacrament School students, the anecdote was among stories Johansson shared during a recent Capitals Hockey School assembly.

Featuring instruction from Capitals coaches and alumni, Hockey School is a free program designed to be both instructional and interactive with the goal of exposing students to floor hockey while teaching proper technique.

While Johansson told the Alexandria, Va., students he began playing hockey at six years old, he encouraged students of any age to pick up the game.

“I’ve seen guys starting at eight, nine and 10, and they became great hockey players – just because you didn’t start when you were five or six it doesn’t mean you can’t do it,” he advised.

“When I grew up,” Johansson said as he gestured to the street hockey equipment placed around the gymnasium, “We did this in the parking lot back home.”

During the assembly the Goteberg, Sweden, native drew on his experiences playing in 1,109 NHL games to instruct students on stickhandling, passing and shooting prior to joining them in a scrimmage.

As the children became goalies, defenseman and forwards – many of them for the first time – Johansson alternated between playing with and cheering on the students throughout a game that ended in a tie.

“We had a great hour and a half at Blessed Sacrament School,” Johansson said following the clinic. “Every time I pull up my car to one of these, I am amazed at how far hockey has come in this region.”

The Blessed Sacrament visit marked the seventh Capitals Hockey School assembly of the 2012-13 school year, with 2012-13 marking the sixth consecutive year the Capitals have conducted the program.

Following each clinic the Capitals donate a set of street hockey equipment to the school. Last year more than $13,000 worth of street hockey equipment was donated to 20 local schools through the team’s Hockey School program and playoff pep rally contest.

To date the Capitals have hosted more than 70 clinics and reached more than 10,000 students by hosting two Hockey School visits each month between September and May.

In addition to the equipment donation, all students receive an autographed alumni card, a hockey 101 booklet and a Capitals squishy puck, while the school receives a Capitals Hockey School banner.

Learning about hockey directly from Johansson was especially meaningful for the students, said school principal Valerie Garcia.

“It was a great day for the kids to see somebody professional who played at that high of a level telling them about the sport,” said Garcia. “He’s a great role model for them and it also is great to get all of the equipment.”

Washington Capitals assistant coach Calle Johansson takes questions during a Hockey School assembly at Blessed Sacrament School in Alexandria, Va. During the clinic Johansson instructed students on stickhandling, passing and shooting. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

Washington Capitals assistant coach Calle Johansson takes questions during a Hockey School assembly at Blessed Sacrament School in Alexandria, Va. During the clinic Johansson instructed students on stickhandling, passing and shooting. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

Washington Capitals assistant coach Calle Johansson instructs a Blessed Sacrament School student on stickhandling during a Hockey School clinic. The visit marked the Capitals seventh Hockey School assembly of the 2012-13 school year. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

Washington Capitals assistant coach Calle Johansson instructs a Blessed Sacrament School student on stickhandling during a Hockey School clinic. The visit marked the Capitals seventh Hockey School assembly of the 2012-13 school year. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

Washington Capitals assistant coach Calle Johansson, Capitals mascot Slapshot and Blessed Sacrament School principal Valerie Garcia pose with a Hockey School partner banner. Following a hockey clinic, the Capitals donated a set of street hockey equipment to the school. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

Washington Capitals assistant coach Calle Johansson, Capitals mascot Slapshot and Blessed Sacrament School principal Valerie Garcia pose with a Hockey School partner banner. Following a hockey clinic, the Capitals donated a set of street hockey equipment to the school. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

 

 

Filed Under: Beyond the Game Tagged With: , , , ,

Washington Capitals Name Calle Johansson Assistant Coach

July 18, 2012 by

Calle Johansson at Caps Alumni Game, 9/23/2011. (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Capitals Name Calle Johansson Assistant Coach

Former Capitals Defenseman is the Franchise Leader in Games Played

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have named Calle Johansson the team’s assistant coach, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Johansson, 45, holds the record for the most games played as a Washington Capital, appearing in 983 games with Washington from 1989-2003. Johansson holds Washington records for points (474) and assists (361) by a defenseman and ranks third in goals (113) all-time. He was an alternate captain with Washington during the 1998-99, 1999-00 and 2002-03 seasons. Johansson along with current Capitals head coach Adam Oates and associate goaltending coach Olie Kolzig, played for the Capitals team that reached the 1998 Stanley Cup finals. He helped the Capitals reach the playoffs in 11 of his 15 seasons with Washington and holds franchise playoff records for games played (95) and points (54) by a defenseman.

The Goteberg, Sweden, native played in 1,109 career NHL games, collecting 535 points (119 goals, 416 assists) and 519 penalty minutes. Johansson was originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round (14th overall) of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft and was traded to Washington on March 7, 1989, with a second-round pick (Byron Dafoe) in the 1989 draft for Clint Malarchuk, Grant Ledyard and Washington’s sixth choice in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. The 5’11”, 203-pound blueliner played for Buffalo and Washington before retiring on August 7, 2003. Johansson worked briefly as a scout for the Capitals before coming out of retirement to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs at the end of the 2003-04 season. He appeared in eight regular-season games (collecting six assists) and four playoff games before retiring at the end of the season.

Johansson represented Sweden at numerous international tournaments, including the 1983 and 1984 (gold medal) European Junior Championships, the 1986 and 1987 (bronze medal) World Junior Championships, the 1991 Canada Cup, the 1991 (gold medal) and 1992 (gold medal) World Championships, the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Following his playing career, Johansson became a color commentator and provided analysis for Swedish television for both the Swedish Elite League (SEL) and the NHL. He was an assistant coach for Frolunda of the SEL during the 2006-07 season before returning to broadcasting.

Filed Under: Caps/NHL Tagged With: , , , ,
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