Capitals Host UAE Women's National Hockey Team

In conjunction with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and Etihad Airways, the Washington Capitals hosted the United Arab Emirates Women's National Hockey Team in Washington, D.C., from Saturday, Feb. 2 through Wednesday, Feb. 6

On Monday, Feb. 4, the team hosted a workshop with the American Special Hockey Association (ASHA) at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. The team also gifted equipment to ASHA, advancing its mission to make hockey more accessible to athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The UAE Women's National Team and ASHA players also attended the Capitals game versus the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 5, where they were recognized in-game.
The visit is part of a special UAE delegation to the United States that also includes activities with the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins.
During the 2016-17 season, the Capitals relationship with the team developed when Capitals alumnus Peter Bondra met team member Fatima Al Ali while in Abu Dhabi hosting a youth hockey clinic. After noticing her stickhandling, the Capitals and Etihad Airways
surprised Al Ali with an invitation to Washington
.
Last season, Al Ali
returned with the entire team
as part of a special delegation to the United States and Canada. In June, Al Ali returned to Washington D.C. and participated in the 2018 Stanley Cup Championship parade.
The team conducted practices at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, spent time sightseeing, visited the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, attended a Washington Wizards game and volunteered at Children's National Medical Center.

The team's visit supported Hockey is for Everyone (HIFE), a league wide initiative dedicated to celebrating grassroots hockey and the game's growing diversity. The program offers people of all backgrounds opportunities to play hockey and leverages the sport as a catalyst to teach essential life skills and the core values of hockey: commitment, perseverance and teamwork.
As the exclusive airline partner of the Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics and Capital One Arena, Etihad Airways works collaboratively with MSE on several community initiatives to promote and celebrate the international nature of sport in Washington, D.C., Abu Dhabi and throughout the world.