June 20, 2013

CAPS: Washington Capitals Players and Better Halves Visit Children’s National Medical Center

February 18, 2013 by
Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom (19) and defenseman Jeff Schultz (55) work on arts and crafts with patients at Children’s National Medical Center during a Feb. 15 visit. Capitals players have made a tradition of visiting Children’s National Medical Center each season since 1984. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom (19) and defenseman Jeff Schultz (55) work on arts and crafts with patients at Children’s National Medical Center during a Feb. 15 visit. Capitals players have made a tradition of visiting Children’s National Medical Center each season since 1984. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

Washington Capitals defenseman Tom Poti works on an arts and crafts project with a child at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. during a Feb. 15 visit. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

Washington Capitals defenseman Tom Poti works on an arts and crafts project with a child at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. during a Feb. 15 visit. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

Following an afternoon of arts and crafts, Washington Capitals players and their better halves take a group photograph with patients at Children’s National Medical Center. Back row (l-r): Jessica and Tom Poti, Michal Neuvirth and Monika Hybnerova, Ashley and Jay Beagle, Tomas Kundratek and Alannah Dzerdz, Nicklas Backstrom and Liza Berg, Mackenzie Schultz. Front row (l-r): Donna Oates, Jeff Schultz. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

Following an afternoon of arts and crafts, Washington Capitals players and their better halves take a group photograph with patients at Children’s National Medical Center. Back row (l-r): Jessica and Tom Poti, Michal Neuvirth and Monika Hybnerova, Ashley and Jay Beagle, Tomas Kundratek and Alannah Dzerdz, Nicklas Backstrom and Liza Berg, Mackenzie Schultz. Front row (l-r): Donna Oates, Jeff Schultz. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

 

ARLINGTON, Va. – During the past two years, 10-year-old Ellie Schleyer has been visiting Children’s National Medical Center for an undiagnosed brain disorder.

In between bloodwork and tests on Feb. 15, she discovered several Washington Capitals players and their better halves at the hospital for an afternoon of arts and crafts.

In the hospital’s atrium Ellie joined several other children along with Nicklas Backstrom and Liza Berg, Jay and Ashley Beagle, Tomas Kundratek and Alannah Dzerdz, Michal Neuvirth and Monika Hybnerova, Donna Oates, wife of head coach Adam Oates, Tom and Jessica Poti and Jeff and Mackenzie Schultz.

“To see the kids get so excited when the guys come is just priceless,” said Mackenzie Schultz. “A lot of kids are here fighting through things that we can’t even imagine at such a young age. Just to put a smile on their face and make one day a little better is so important.”

Ellie’s father, David Schleyer, said the visit had a positive effect on Ellie, who made each player she worked with a piece of art.

“For her, it’s an opportunity to express something other than sadness,” he said. “To see the players giving her time and admiring her artwork says a lot about their character.”

The Capitals have made a tradition of visiting Children’s National Medical Center each season since 1984.

“It’s definitely hard for the children to be in the hospital, so we’re happy to be with them and play games and make them happy,” said Kundratek. “It’s pretty awesome to be here and spend some time with them.”

Located in Washington, D.C., Children’s National Medical Center is the only exclusive provider of pediatric care in the metropolitan Washington area and is the only freestanding children’s hospital between Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Norfolk and Atlanta. Serving the nation’s children for more than 140 years, Children’s National is a proven leader in the development and application of innovative new treatments for childhood illness and injury.

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CAPS: Washington Capitals Halves Present Check to Washington Animal Rescue League

April 19, 2012 by

Mackenzie Keeley (Jeff Schultz’s fiancée), Mandy Flemmer (Karl Alzner’s fiancée) and Carmen Brouwer present Washington Animal Rescue League’s chief operating officer Mary Jarvis a check for $31,320, which was raised through the sale of the 2012 Caps Canine Calendars. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

Mackenzie Keeley (Jeff Schultz’s fiancée) and Carmen Brouwer play with two puppies during their tour of the Washington Animal Rescue League on Wednesday, April 18. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Capitals)

Washington Capitals Charities Donates More than $30,000 to the
Washington Animal Rescue League
Caps Better Halves Tour Facility and Present Check

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Caps Better Halves presented a $31,320.00 check to the Washington Animal Rescue League in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 18. These funds were donated by Washington Capitals Charities and were raised through the sale of the 2012 Caps Canine Calendars.

Carmen Brouwer, Mandy Flemmer (Karl Alzner’s fiancée) and Mackenzie Keeley (Jeff Schultz’s fiancée) were led on a tour of the Washington Animal Rescue League by chief operating officer Mary Jarvis. The Caps Better Halves learned about the facility and the organization and spent time with the dogs and cats currently available for adoption. After the tour Brouwer, Flemmer and Keeley presented Jarvis and the League with a check in the amount of $31,320.00.

The Caps Better Halves enjoyed the tour and resisted the temptation of taking home new pets as the Brouwers and Keeley and Schultz already have two dogs and Flemmer and Alzner have three.

“We were under strict orders not to bring home any new additions,” said Flemmer. “Although the animals here are so cute, there were definitely a few I would’ve liked to bring home.”

The 2012 Caps Canine Calendar was sold at Caps home games, at the team store at Kettler Capitals Iceplex and online at WashingtonCaps.com. The calendar features photos of Capitals players Karl Alzner, Jay Beagle, Troy Brouwer, Jeff Halpern, Roman Hamrlik, Matt Hendricks, Michal Neuvirth, Jeff Schultz and Dennis Wideman with their dogs as well as Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson and Mike Green with dogs from the Washington Animal Rescue League. The Caps Better Halves sold the calendars during the month of December at the community relations table at Verizon Center.

Washington Animal Rescue League
The oldest animal shelter in the District of Columbia, the Washington Animal Rescue League has a special mission to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home animals that have nowhere else to go. Its facility is uniquely designed from the animals’ point of view to make it one of the most humane and welcoming animal shelters in the world. The full-service medical center serves the companion animals of low-income pet guardians, as well as shelter animals. At any time, the League has about 200 dogs and cats available for adoption. All animals receive thorough medical and behavioral assessments prior to being made available for adoption. The League is located at 71 Oglethorpe Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011. For more information, visit www.warl.org.

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CAPS: Washington Capitals’ Better Halves Visited Children’s Nationals Medical Center

April 2, 2012 by

“It’s nice to come out and help them [kids] feel better, give them a little break of what is going on in their lives every day.” -Carmen Brouwer (Wife of Troy Brouwer)

The Washington Capitals’ wives and girlfriends visited Children’s National Medical Center on Monday, April 2, to make Easter and spring-themed arts and crafts with patients (and patients’ siblings) in the hospital’s atrium. This was the Capitals second trip to Children’s National Medical Center this season and their twelfth consecutive season working with Children’s. Caps players Karl Alzner, Jeff Halpern, Matt Hendricks and Mike Knuble, along with mascot Slapshot, played video games and colored with patients on Feb. 27.

Capitals Michal Neuvirth's girlfriend Monika Hybnerova, Karl Alzner's fiance Mandy Flemmer and Dennis Wideman's fiance Lindsay MacDonald making spring arts and crafts with kids at Children's Hospital April 2 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Caps’ better halves Ashley Beagle (Jay Beagle’s wife), Carmen Brouwer (Troy Brouwer’s wife), Mandy Flemmer (Karl Alzner’s fiance), Monika Hybnerova, (Michal Neuvirth’s girlfriend), Cynthia Lavoie (Roman Hamrlik’s wife) and Lindsay MacDonald (Dennis Wideman’s fiance) made tiaras, cards, signs, Easter baskets and other arts and crafts items with kids in the atrium at Children’s National Medical Center.

“Washington Capitals’ wives and girlfriends are here to spend time with kids making arts and crafts and just kind of take their mind off their treatments and other things that they are going through,” said Mark Miller, Communications Director for The Children’s Hospital Foundation.” Miller continued, “We’ve had doctors and nurses tell us that it actually contributes to the healing process to have some fun, do something different or see people they admire, whether its the wives and girlfriends or the players themselves. Just having someone who is important or special come to see them means a lot to them.”

Capitals better halves at Children's Hospital April 2 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Capitals Jay Beagle and Troy Brouwer's wives and Karl Alzner's fiance making spring arts and crafts with kids at Children's Hospital April 2 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Capitals Roman Hamrlik's wife Cynthia Lavoie with child at Children's Hospital April 2 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Capitals Dennis Wideman's fiance Lindsay MacDonald with child at Children's Hospital April 2 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Capitals Michal Neuvirth's girlfriend Monika Hybnerova making arts and crafts with kida at Children's Hospital April 2 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Capitals Jay Beagle's wife Ashley Beagle with child at Children's Hospital April 2 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Capitals Troy Brouwer's wife Carmen Brouwer with child at Children's Hospital April 2 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Capitals Roman Hamrlik's wife Cynthia Lavoie with child at Children's Hospital April 2 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Comcast's Jill Sorenson interviewing a child at Children's Hospital April 2 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Capitals Dennis Wideman's fiance Lindsay MacDonald with child at Children's Hospital April 2 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Children's Hospital April 2 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Children’s National Medical Center is the only exclusive provider of pediatric care in the metropolitan Washington area and is the only freestanding children’s hospital between Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Norfolk, and Atlanta. Serving the nation’s children for more than 140 years, Children’s National is a proven leader in the development and application of innovative new treatments for childhood illness and injury.

Cheryl Nichols is a Columnist and Photographer for District Sports Page. She is credentialed to cover the Washington Capitals and has reported on the community service and fan events for Nats News Network and Caps News Network since 2006. Cheryl is an accomplished action photographer and has been published in The Washington Post and many other local media. She was a credentialed photographer for the 2010 season covering the Washington Nationals. You can follow her on Twitter @cnichols14.

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