CAPITALS NEWS NETWORK: Off The Ice: Bowling with the Caps (with Photos)

Several members of the Washington Capitals and their better halves spent Saturday afternoon, February 5 at Lucky Strike bowling to benefit cancer survivorship programs at Virginia Hospital Center.

The Capitals’ wives and girlfriends pick a charity to give $25,000 of the money raised during the Caps Care Casino Night and Auction every year. This year they selected The Chris Walsh Cancer Survivorship Fund at Virginia Hospital Center as the beneficiary. Christopher Walsh, MD, internist for the Washington Capitals, is a cancer survivor and recently established the fund.

Dr. Christopher Walsh discussing surviorship

Survivorship is the experience of living with, through and beyond cancer for both patients and the people in their lives who are impacted by the diagnosis.

Michele Werner, director of development for the Virginia Hospital Center Foundation, was encouraged by the success of the inaugural event. Werner started working with the Caps' better halves about six months ago to create a "really family-friendly, fun event."

Michele Werner

Virginia Hospital Center is committed to providing access to state-of-the-art technology, compassionate skilled physicians and staff, and an array of ancillary and support services, to best guide patients with cancer through the continuum of diagnosis, planning, treatment and recovery.

Washington Capitals players and ladies that participated were Karl Alzner and his fiancée Mandy Flemmer, Matt Bradley, Jason and Sarah Chimera, Eric and Rachel Fehr, Boyd Gordon and his girlfriend Samantha Casey, Matt and Kim Hendricks, D. J. King, Mike and Megan Knuble, Jeff Schultz and his girlfriend Mackenzie Keeley and David and Diondra Steckel.

Caps First Ladies

Brooks Laich and his girlfriend made a surprise appearance, however, didn't bowl. Matt Bradley and Eric Fehr didn't bowl due to injuries and despite declaring that he was a good bowler, D.J. King didn't bowl because he was a little tardy to the event.