New Year's Caps Style

Yesterday I met up with some friends at The Phone Booth to see the Caps take on the Ottawa Senators. Despite giving up two goals in the opening three minutes, the Caps hammered Ottawa 6-3. For more on the game, click here.

Today after I dropped off Benjamin at day care, I headed over to the Caps practice facility at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, VA. This is a nice facility. It opened in 2006 and not only is it the practice facility for the Caps, but it's also where their administrative offices are located. It is also open to the public and after practice, I saw there was a good size group of people enjoying a general skate on another rink. The facility is on the eighth level of the parking garage attached to the Ballston Common Mall. Practices are free, but check on the Caps website (link provided below) for dates and times. Here is my little adventure for today.

Practice ran from 10:30 AM until 11:10 AM. It was short because they had the game yesterday and a flight to Boston to catch tonight as they play the Bruins tomorrow night.


Caps Head Coach Bruce Boudreau instructing the players before a drill.


Olie Kolzig, aka Olie the Goalie. With the win yesterday, Olie moved up to 25th place on the all time goaltenders victory list with 289. While he does not have the Stanley Cup rings that Martin Brodeur or Patrick Roy have, Olie's been with the Caps organization for almost twenty years. He's won some major goaltending awards and has been a class act both on and off the ice. In my opinion he belongs in the Hockey Hall of Fame when his career ends.

Some more pictures from practice.






After practice, Coach Boudreau held his post practice interview. (Be sure to click the NHL Video link above the logo)

After practice I rode the elevator to the food court with Coach Boudreau and we chatted about the game yesterday and the practice facility and I wished him and the team well the rest of the year. Pretty fun way to spend a morning and when Benjamin gets a little older, will add this as a to do as the facility is very kid friendly.

For more about the Caps click here.