Caps Care Year in Review: Youth Hockey Development Programming

During the 2022-23 season, the Washington Capitals, its players, and Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation (MSE Foundation) continued to give back to the community and grow participation in hockey throughout the region. Through fundraising and programming efforts, the Capitals and MSE Foundation supported numerous organizations in an array of missions. The organization's efforts resulted in $1.6 million raised for charity.

"As a professional sports team we are in a unique position to make a difference and are proud of the work our players and the Capitals organization have done in the community this season," said Capitals president Dick Patrick. "We look forward to continuing to build on our efforts in the future to further support the many organizations who are having such a substantial impact on our region and to provide opportunities to participate in the game that we love."

Over the next four weeks, WashCaps.com is taking a look back at highlights across the following categories:

This week, WashCaps.com recaps youth hockey programming:

Capital Impact Fund: The Washington Capitals and MSE Foundation announced Bowie Hockey Club, Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena, George Mason University Ice Hockey Alumni Foundation, Navy Youth Hockey Foundation and Titans Youth Hockey as the organization's Capital Impact Fund beneficiaries in October 2022. Each organization received $10,000 and all were selected by the Capitals based on their missions and impact toward diversity in hockey, as well as on their plans to use the funding to further advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the sport.

In 2020, the Capitals organization and MSE Foundation created the Capital Impact Fund to provide grants to organizations that can assist in eliminating cost barriers faced by individuals of color in the hockey community. Prior Capital Impact Fund recipients include The Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Program, Players Against Hate, Positive Coaching Alliance, The Tender Bridge - Baltimore Banners and the Tucker Road Parent Hockey Organization.

Youth Hockey Clinic: Capitals Youth Hockey Development hosted a youth hockey clinic on Feb. 11, at MedStar Capitals Iceplex with members of the Fort Dupont Cannons, Tucker Road Ducks, Baltimore Banners and graduates of the Future Caps Learn to Play Program. The clinic was led by current Gonzaga College High School Varsity II Head Coach and Fort Dupont Cannons alumnus Bryan King.

Black Girl Hockey Club Scholarship: The Capitals and MSE Foundation funded a Black Girl Hockey Club (BGHC) scholarship for Arianna Willet, a Washington, D.C., based hockey player, who currently plays for the Northern Virginia Ice Dogs' 14u Girls hockey team. Willet began her career with the Fort Dupont Cannons and Tucker Road Ducks. The BGHC scholarship program was established to subsidize the cost of playing hockey for Black females ages nine through 18. Scholarships are offered annually to assist and encourage Black females to pursue their interest in hockey, a sport where Black players are often underrepresented. The scholarship is disbursed three times a year and is available to players globally. Click here for additional information.

Youth Hockey Day:The Capitals celebrated Youth Hockey Day, presented by Delta Dental, on Feb. 12 Select youth hockey players from the Washington, D.C., region walked into the arena with Capitals players during pregame arrivals. Each Capitals player was paired with a local youth player while walking to the locker room, with both wearing the youth player's team jersey. Six participants from the Capitals Future Caps Learn to Play program presented by World Wide Technology also took to the ice with the Capitals starting lineup.

There are currently 21,487 USA Hockey Youth and Adult players across Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, a 29% growth from the 2020-21 season. This number reflects a 51% growth in Washington, D.C. The region has also seen a 32% growth in female youth and adult players, including a 55% growth in Washington, D.C.

Coaches Day: The Capitals hosted Coaches Day on Nov. 6, inviting coaches from across the Washington, D.C., region to MedStar Capitals Iceplex for on- and off-ice presentations and programming featuring members of the Capitals coaching staff and senior director of team and organizational development Dr. Aimee Kimball, as well as members of the player development staff.

Capitals PWHPA Showcase: In partnership with the Washington Capitals, the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) played four games of the 2022-2023 Secret Dream Gap Tour at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va., from March 4-5 as part of the Capitals PWHPA Showcase, presented by Leidos and Thundercat with Dell Technologies. In addition, the Capitals and PWHPA presented two clinics and one chalk talk for local women and girls.

Learn to Play: In partnership with the National Hockey League and National Hockey League Player's Association, the Capitals continued this season to offer the Future Caps Learn to Play program presented by World Wide Technology. Future Caps offers first-time participants, ages 5-9, free, Capitals-branded head-to-toe equipment and eight classes of instruction from certificated coaches, Capitals alumni and female ambassadors. Since its launch in 2016, more than 8,100 players have been introduced to hockey through the Capitals Learn to Play Program. The program was offered at 21 local rinks throughout the 2022-23 season. To learn more about the program, visit CapsYouthHockey.com/FutureCaps.

Hockey School: Through the Capitals Hockey School program presented by Capital One, public elementary and middle schools receive street hockey equipment, a custom written curriculum and staff training. Capitals youth hockey development staff offer visits to first- through eighth-grade P.E. classes and assist teachers in providing instruction. Since the 2016-17 season, the Capitals have donated equipment to 1,302 schools and engaged 843,277 students with the game. In addition, more than 2,100 teachers have been trained by Capitals staff, leading to more than 50,000 hours of teacher-to-student instruction.

Try Hockey for Free Program:The Try Hockey for Free program is geared toward participants ages 4-17. It launched in April 2022 to offer street hockey clinics free of charge to local children across the Washington, D.C., area. Each participant learns the basics of hockey, including stickhandling, passing and shooting. Additionally, all participants receive a street hockey stick and ball to take home following the event to encourage continued development. The Capitals Try Hockey for Free program is designed as both an introduction to the game for participants as well as an opportunity to reach families in the Washington community interested in more affordable options to participate in hockey. To learn more about the program, visit www.CapsYouthHockey.com/TryHockeyForFree.

Sticks and Sneakers Learn to Play Street Hockey Program: Sticks and Sneakers is a first of its kind learn to play street hockey initiative that provides families the opportunity to join the hockey community through an accessible and affordable program. Participants develop fundamental skills that will help them succeed in hockey and beyond. The Sticks and Sneakers program is designed for first-time players between the ages of 5-14. For a small fee, participants will receive free equipment and six weeks of age-appropriate introductory instruction on the fundamental skills of hockey from certified coaches. To learn more about the program, visit www.CapsYouthHockey.com/SticksAndSneakers.

Inline Hockey Program: The Capitals hosted Elev802 athlete Pete Lenes, also known as "Swaggy P," for local hockey clinics from March 18-19 as part of the launch of a new Caps Youth Hockey Development inline hockey platform. Swaggy P, an influencer in the hockey community, uses Instagram and Tik Tok to reach youth players looking to develop their skills both on and off the ice.

The inline hockey platform includes free Learn to Skate clinics in the spring and Learn to Play Inline Hockey classes in the fall. The program is a first of its kind initiative that provides families the opportunity to join the hockey community through an accessible and affordable program. Participants will develop fundamental skills that will help them succeed in hockey and beyond. To learn more about the program, visit www.CapsYouthHockey.com/LearnToInlineSkate.

ALL CAPS ALL HER:The Capitals continued to offer programming through ALL CAPS ALL HER, an initiative that provides access to hockey and elevates the game for women and girls in the Washington, D.C., area. ALL CAPS ALL HER recognizes and supports female players, coaches, referees, parents, advocates, students and leaders in the community. Events, programs and content will provide various levels of entry into hockey for women and girls of all ages, offer leadership, business development, and networking opportunities and highlight influential women and families in the community. In the fall, the Capitals hosted ACAH All-Girls Learn to Play and an ACAH Adult Learn to Play program, as well as an ACAH Adult Learn to Skate program. During the 2022-23 season, the Capitals hosted the ACAH All-Girls Learn to Play program, High School Training Camp Clinic Series, ACAH Adult Learn to Skate program, and ACAH Adult Learn to Play program. The Capitals will also host the ALL CAPS ALL HER Girls Summer Camp Aug. 7-11. Additionally, the Capitals support the Capitals Women's Hockey League (CWHL) at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.