Washington Capitals forward Joey Crabb poses with children assisted by Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors during a skating party at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va. The event kicked off the 2012-13 Courage Caps, presented by SKYDEX technologies. 100% of proceeds raised through the sale of Courage Caps and T-Shirts will benefit TAPS. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson skates with children and adults assisted by the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors during a skating party at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va. For the second-consecutive season, TAPS is the beneficiary of Courage Caps, team-issued branded hats and T-shirts that will go on sale beginning March 10, when the Capitals host the New York Rangers. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

Capitals Host Courage Caps Skating Party
at Kettler Capitals Iceplex for TAPS

Event kicks off 2012-13 Courage Caps presented by SKYDEX Technologies, on sale March 10

ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals American-born players John Carlson, Joey Crabb, Matt Hendricks and Jack Hillen hosted more than 150 children and adults assisted by the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) for a skating party and lunch at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on March 3.

The event kicked off the 2012-13 Courage Caps campaign, presented for the second season by SKYDEX Technologies. Courage Caps are team-issued branded hats and T-shirts that will go on sale beginning March 10, when the Capitals host the New York Rangers.

For the second-consecutive season, TAPS is the beneficiary of Courage Caps. TAPS is a nonprofit organization that provides comfort and care for anyone who is grieving the death of someone who died while serving in the military. TAPS will receive 100% of the proceeds raised through the sale of Courage Caps.

Skating party attendees participated in an hour long skating session with Carlson, Crabb, Hendricks and Hillen.

“We’re proud to be supporting TAPS through Courage Caps,” said Crabb. “A lot of the families have been through some rough things, and it was great to see the kids having fun out here.”

Funds raised will provide peer-based emotional support, regional seminars for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, grief and trauma resources and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for bereaved military families.

Courage Caps and Courage T-shirts will be sold for $20 online at WashingtonCaps.com, at the Washington Capitals Team Store at Kettler Capitals Iceplex and at the Team Store and at stands throughout Verizon Center during Capitals home games. There will also be a limited number of autographed Courage Caps and T-shirts available for sale at WashingtonCaps.com and at the community relations table located behind section 103/104 on the main concourse at Verizon Center.

For $60 fans can purchase a Courage Cap or T-shirt signed by Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green or Alex Ovechkin; for $40 fans can purchase a Courage Cap or T-shirt signed by any other individual Capitals player. Fans will be able to order hats or T-shirts signed by any rostered player online.

A select number of autographed hats will be on sale at the community relations table at section 103/104 on the main concourse at Verizon Center. When the Capitals host the New York Rangers on March 10, fans may purchase hats signed by Backstrom, Green or Ovechkin for $60 each and by Karl Alzner, Troy Brouwer, Carlson, Hendricks, Braden Holtby, Mike Ribeiro or Joel Ward for $40 each.

Since the initiative launched in 2007, the Courage Caps campaign has set a new record each year, raising a total of nearly $322,000 through the sale of nearly 8,000 Courage Caps in five years and more than 3,000 Courage T-shirts in three years. Nearly 2,500 Courage Caps and 2,000 Courage T-shirts were sold last season, raising more than $105,000 for TAPS.

TAPS is the national organization providing compassionate care for the families of America’s fallen military heroes. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, seminars for adults, good grief camps for children, case work assistance and a 24/7 resource helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces, regardless of the location of the death or the circumstances of the death. Services are provided free of charge. For more information about TAPS, visit www.taps.org or call the toll-free help line at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).

SKYDEX, a privately held technology company headquartered near Denver, is the industry leader in developing innovative protective materials that mitigate shock, vibration and/or energy forces for the most demanding military, commercial and industrial applications. Its technologically advanced innovations include blast-mitigating flooring for combat vehicles, padding for military helmets, vibration-attenuating seating for both ground vehicles and helicopters and shock absorbing decking for high speed boats. SKYDEX is a leading supplier to armed forces around the world. To learn more about SKYDEX Technologies, visit www.skydex.com.

Washington Capitals forward Matt Hendricks skates with an adult assisted by Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors during a skating party at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va. The event kicked off the 2012-13 Courage Caps, presented by SKYDEX technologies. Courage Caps and Courage T-shirts will be sold for $20 online at WashingtonCaps.com, at the Washington Capitals Team Store at Kettler Capitals Iceplex and at the Team Store and at stands throughout Verizon Center during Capitals home games. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

(Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Capitals to Host Courage Caps Skating Party
at Kettler Capitals Iceplex for TAPS

ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals American-born players John Carlson, Joey Crabb, Matt Hendricks and Jack Hillen will host more than 150 children and adults assisted by the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) for a skating party and lunch at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on Sunday, March 3, from 11 a.m. to noon.

The event kicks off the 2012-13 Courage Caps campaign, presented for the second season by SKYDEX Technologies. Courage Caps are team-issued branded hats and T-shirts that will go on sale beginning March 10, when the Capitals host the New York Rangers.

For the second consecutive season, TAPS is the beneficiary of Courage Caps. TAPS is a nonprofit organization that provides comfort and care for anyone who is grieving the death of someone who died while serving in the military. TAPS will receive 100% of the proceeds raised through the sale of Courage Caps.

Funds raised will provide peer-based emotional support, regional seminars for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, grief and trauma resources and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for bereaved military families.

Courage Caps and Courage T-shirts will be sold for $20 online at WashingtonCaps.com, at the Washington Capitals Team Store at Kettler Capitals Iceplex and at the Team Store and at stands throughout Verizon Center during Capitals home games. There will also be a limited number of autographed Courage Caps and T-shirts available for sale at WashingtonCaps.com and at the community relations table located behind section 103/104 on the main concourse at Verizon Center.

For $60 fans can purchase a Courage Cap or T-shirt signed by Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green or Alex Ovechkin; for $40 fans can purchase a Courage Cap or T-shirt signed by any other individual Capitals player. Fans will be able to order hats or T-shirts signed by any rostered player online.

A select number of autographed hats will be on sale at the community relations table at section 103/104 on the main concourse at Verizon Center. When the Capitals host the New York Rangers on March 10, fans may purchase hats signed by Backstrom, Green or Ovechkin for $60 each and by Karl Alzner, Troy Brouwer, Carlson, Hendricks, Braden Holtby, Mike Ribeiro or Joel Ward for $40 each.

Since the initiative launched in 2007, the Courage Caps campaign has set a new record each year, raising a total of nearly $322,000 through the sale of nearly 8,000 Courage Caps in five years and more than 3,000 Courage T-shirts in three years. Nearly 2,500 Courage Caps and 2,000 Courage T-shirts were sold last season, raising more than $105,000 for TAPS.

TAPS is the national organization providing compassionate care for the families of America’s fallen military heroes. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, seminars for adults, good grief camps for children, case work assistance and a 24/7 resource helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces, regardless of the location of the death or the circumstances of the death. Services are provided free of charge. For more information about TAPS, visit www.taps.org or call the toll-free help line at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).

SKYDEX, a privately held technology company headquartered near Denver, is the industry leader in developing innovative protective materials that mitigate shock, vibration and/or energy forces for the most demanding military, commercial and industrial applications. Its technologically advanced innovations include blast-mitigating flooring for combat vehicles, padding for military helmets, vibration-attenuating seating for both ground vehicles and helicopters and shock absorbing decking for high speed boats. SKYDEX is a leading supplier to armed forces around the world. To learn more about SKYDEX Technologies, visit www.skydex.com or view the SKYDEX online press kit here.

WHO: Washington Capitals American-born players John Carlson, Joey Crabb, Jack Hillen and Matt Hendricks

WHAT: Skating party with surviving military families assisted by TAPS to launch Courage Caps

WHEN: Sunday, March 3, 2013
11 a.m. to noon

WHERE: Kettler Capitals Iceplex
627 N. Glebe Road
Arlington, Va. 22203