Capitals raise funds for Fort Dupont Cannons though online shop

ARLINGTON, Va. --The Washington Capitals haven't had many opportunities to interact with the Fort Dupont Cannons the past two seasons because of concerns surrounding the coronavirus, but they've found other ways to support North America's oldest minority-oriented youth hockey program.

That includes opening an
online merchandise shop
in early January to sell hoodies, T-shirts, pom-beanies and iron-on patches featuring the Cannons and Capitals logos.
Capitals coaches wore the co-branded hoodies during practice Monday and players wore them during media availability before traveling to play the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; ATTSN, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
"It's such an awesome program," Capitals forward Tom Wilson said. "Obviously, we would've liked to be there a little bit more over the last couple years, but the world had other plans, and we're excited for the day where we can get back there and spend time with the kids. It's just such a great program where a lot of people in this area go through or spend time at some point in their lives and I think we're pumped as the Caps to be partnered."
Proceeds from sales of the Capitals-Cannons apparel will benefit the Cannons and the Washington Capitals Capital Impact Fund. The Cannons will be between rinks after Fort Dupont Ice Arena in Southeast Washington, their home since they were founded in 1978, closes for demolition March 1. A new, $23 million rink will be constructed in its place and is expected to be completed by Fall 2023, and merchandise sales will be helpful to the Cannons in the meantime.

Before the pandemic, Capitals players annually visited Fort Dupont Ice Arena to skate with the Cannons. Last season, they participated in a virtual visit with the Cannons and coach Peter Laviolette joined a virtual coaches panel with Fort Dupont coach and founder Neal Henderson and Duante Abercrombie, a Cannons alumnus and assistant for the men's hockey team at NCAA Division III Stevenson University, located outside Baltimore.
"It was great to go on a chat with them last year and just talk hockey," Laviolette said. "It's a really, really cool story. There's some great coaches that I got to meet through the Zoom call, but through COVID you miss the personal interaction and we're still kind of on the outskirts. But it's great to represent them today."