If you cannot make it up to Pittsburgh for the Fourth Annual Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, join fellow Caps fans at the viewing party on Saturday, January 1 at Union Jack's in Arlington! The puck drops at 1 p.m. when the Caps face the Pittsburgh Penguins outdoors.

'ROCK THE RED’ specials for anyone wearing red or showing their Caps pride, including Souvenir Stadium Cups!  There will be food and drink specials, as well as raffles and giveaways! 

TV: NBC (HD)
Radio: Caps Radio 1500, FOX 1370 Sports Radio (WVIE) in Baltimore


LET'S GO CAPS!

Baltimore's Duff Goldman ("Ace of Cakes" on Food Network) is the Celebrity Chef of the NHL Winter Classic.  If you've ever watched the show, you've seen the Charm City Cakes crew has made several hockey cakes and even made a wedding cake to look like Lord Stanley's Cup for fans of the Washington Capitals. Watch the video and you'll recognize the voice as none other than Wes Johnson!  [VIDEO].

Photo Courtesy of Food Network

Duff is often seen wearing a hockey jersey on his show so it doesn't really surprise me that Duff would be interested in participating in the Winter Classic.  I didn't know that a celebrity chef was part of the festivities or why it is really necessary, but it works for me.

Turns out that Duff played hockey in high school and college (University of Maryland-Baltimore). He also did a "Hockey Fights Cancer" PSA in 2008.



Duff has introduced three of his favorite receipes for the Winter Classic and a fourth will be out on Friday, December 31.  They all sound great and can be made up pretty easily.

Recipe 1 is "Dig It Out Of The Corner" Nacho Casserole

Recipe 2 is Classic Wings - 2 ways.  Duff makes up a "Spicy Heinz Ketchup Marinade" for Penguins fans and "Sweet Donkey Spicy Elephant Wings of Political Harmony" for Capitals fans.

Recipe 3 is "Cold-Weather Chili"

If you're not going to the game, what will  you be making for the Winter Classic?  Enjoy.

Check out the Winter Classic Web Cam - LIVE!

Single? Looking for someone to share your passion for the Capitals?  If your answer is yes, then you should attend Capitals Singles Night at Iron Horse Tap Room on Thursday, Dec. 9 from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.

 Tickets are only $20 to the event and includes drinks (soda, beer and wine), appetizers and icebreakers to get to know the others in the room. The singles night event does not include a game ticket.

Iron Horse is located just down the street from the Verizon Center at 507 7th Street, NW. If you have tickets to the game, you can participate in Singles Night and then head over to cheer on your Capitals as they take on the Florida Panthers.

Don’t have tickets to the game? No problem. Stay and watch the game with other Caps fans at Iron Horse.  Click on the link to sign up!


**Singles Night on Nov. 13, 2009 was a sucess!  70 singles between the ages of 25 to 50 attended. There was speed dating and mingling from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and many of the participants watched the Caps game from Bar Louie.

Did you know that second Caps on Tap Bar Tour of the 2010-11 season is coming up this Saturday, December 4? Don't miss out, as it's sure to be a great time!

Event Details

WHAT: Caps on Tap Bar Tour  (includes $2 Budweiser products at all participating bars, with potential food specials available at select locations)

WHEN: This Saturday, Dec. 4, 2-7 p.m. prior to the Caps game vs. the Atlanta Thrashers

HOW: Get your wristbands HERE.

WHERE: Check-in at Greene Turtle (corner of 6th St. and F St. NW) starting at 2 p.m.

Participating bars include: Penn Quarter Sports Tavern, Lucky Strike, Rocket Bar, Greene Turtle, RFD, and Iron Horse Taproom

If you are interested in obtaining a wristband to participate, please respond to BarTourReply@washcaps.com and include your name and the amount of wristbands that you'd like (Note: you are eligible for as many wristbands as seats there are seats on your account). We only have 100 comp wristbands to offer and they are all first come, first served.

**Please note that this is traditionally a very popular event and we are unable to accommodate many fans who don’t reply in time. So please, out of respect for fellow season ticketholders, do not request wristbands unless you plan on using them. We’d like to maximize attendance and hope to see everyone early on Saturday!

HAPPY 23rd BIRTHDAY NICKLAS BACKSTROM!!

(Born in Gavle, Sweden)

Nicky was the Washington Capitals 1st Draft Pick in 2006 (4th Overall).

Photo 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/
Caps News Network. All Rights Reserved.

Join fellow Caps fans at the viewing party Saturday,  November 13 at Hard Times Cafe Fairfax when the Caps face Buffalo Sabres at 7pm.  There will be food and drink specials, as well as raffles and giveaways! 

TV: CSN (HD)
Radio: Caps Radio 1500, 820

LET'S GO CAPS! 

Braden Holtby and Mike Green have joined the other Washington Capitals to raise money for men's health since I first wrote about Movember.  The Caps have raised $36,022 already! 

Donations can be made to the team or to individual Caps players and staff (click on their name below).  Several of the players are also on Twitter.  Follow them to read tweet about their progress, share photos, etc.

Washington Capitals Team
Karl Alzner - $1,764 - @karlalzner
John Carlson - $1,890 - @johncarlson74
Jason Chimera - $15,825
John Erskine - $2,399 - @johnerskine04
Mike Green - $1,124 - @greenlife52
Matt Hendricks - $1,490
Braden Holtby - $934
Jeff Schultz - $1,244
Ynon Labre (Alum) - $1,070
Mike Vogel - $1,230 - @VogsCaps
Brett Leonhardt ("Stretch") - $1,300 - @brettleonhardt

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MUSTACHE PROGRESS PHOTOS (Taken 11/11/2010):

Karl Alzner (I think he looks a bit like Will Forte)

John Carlson - not much there

Jason Chimera - little more than peach fuzz

John Erskine has some serious handlebars going on

Mike Green

Matt Hendricks

Jeff Schultz

Mike Vogel

Brett Leonhardt

Photos 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/

Capitals News Network. All Rights Reserved.

I snapped a few photos during warmups before game tonight to show "Movember" progress.  Karl Alzner's mustache is growing extremely fast. He reminded me of someone and during the third period, I finally figured it out. What do you think? Does he look like Will Forte from Saturday Night Live's ESPN sketch?

Photo 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/

Capitals News Network. All Rights Reserved.

 

Photo from google images

Tonight, Thursday, November 11, 2010, the voice of the Washington Capitals will call his 1000th regular season game. Congrats Steve Kolbe!

H/T to Mike Vogel

Press Release: Courage Caps on Sale beginning Thursday, Nov. 11

Courage Caps and Courage T-shirts will be sold for $20 online at WashingtonCaps.com and at the Washington Capitals Team Store at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Courage Caps will be sold at the Fan Gear store and at stands throughout Verizon Center for $20 during Capitals home games.

There will also be a limited number of autographed Courage Caps and T-shirts available for sale at WashingtonCaps.com and at the community relations table located behind section 104 on the main concourse at Verizon Center. For $50, fans can purchase a Courage Cap or T-shirt signed by Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green, Mike Knuble or Alex Ovechkin; for $35, fans can purchase a Courage Cap or T-shirt signed by any other individual Capitals player.

You too can show your support of their courageous efforts and join the Capitals to help make a difference. All it takes is one Courage Cap or Courage T-shirt; purchase yours today. For more information, click here. 100% of the proceeds will benefit Our Military Kids, a nonprofit organization that supports National Guard and Military Reserve families – one child at a time.

How about dinner at Capital Grille before a Caps game?  The Washington Capitals season ticket holders are guaranteed reservations before each home game by calling 202-737-6200.  Complimentary valet parking.

Capital Grille is located at 601 Penn. Ave., NW, Washington, DC

CONGRATULATIONS BROOKS LAICH!

It was so refreshing to see the list of this year's Sports Illusrated Sportsman of the Year nominees.  No Brett Favre.  No Tiger Woods. No Derek Jeter.  Many of the nominees are great athletes, however, not known as "superstars" or play the "popular" sport.  Kudos to Sports Illustrated for honoring athletes outside the box.

Brooks Laich is Michael Farber's nomination for Sportsman of the Year.  Laich is an underrated player who is great on and off the ice.  He is hard working, humble, and gracious.  Caps fans know that he is the first to practice and last to leave and is always at the optional skates.  Brooks is a leader on the ice and often wears the "A" on his sweater if Poti or Knuble is out.

"Since the inception of the honor in 1954, SI's Sportsman of the Year generally has been a stand-up guy." Farber continues, "This year my nominee is a guy who stooped."  Farber nominated Laich for his work off the ice when he stopped to change a tire for Caps fans shortly after being eliminated from the playoffs at the end of April.

They say that things happen for a reason so thanks to Mary Ann and Lorraine Wangemann for getting a flat tire and Dan Steinberg for telling us about it. And of course, thanks to Brooks Laich for being your kind self to stop and help folks in need of assistance. It appears that "paying it forward" earned Laich the nomination.

CAPS FANS LIKE LAICH!  Good luck Brooks.  Sports Illustrated will announce the winner on November 30. 

Bobby Orr (1970), Wayne Gretzky (1982), and Bob Bourne (co-winner, 1987) represent the NHL Sportsman of the Year winners. The 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team was honored as a group in 1980.

Full list of SI Sportman of the Year Winners since 1954.

Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year Nominees:

Brooks Laich, Hockey-Capitals

Rafael Nadal, Tennis

Kevin Durant, Basketball-Thunder

Roy Halladay, Baseball-Phillies

Butler Bulldogs Basketball

Lorena Ochoa, Golfer

Greg McElroy-Football QB-Alabama

 

Brooks signing autographs for fans

Brooks Scoring Goal

Photos 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/

Capitals News Network. All Rights Reserved.

Join fellow Caps fans at the viewing party Tuesday,  November 9 at Hard Times Cafe Woodbridge when the Caps face New York Rangers at 7pm.  There will be food and drink specials, as well as raffles and giveaways! 

TV: Verus and TSN2
Radio: Caps Radio 1500, 820

LET'S GO CAPS! 

The Second Annual Caps Casino Night  and Auction is Sunday, January 9, 1010 from 6-10 p.m. at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center.

Don't miss out on this special Caps event benefiting Washington Capitals charities. Come join Washington Capitals players, coaches, alumni and owners in a night full of live music, mingling and fun all in the name of charity.

Dress is cocktail attire
All attendees must be 21 years old
VIP Tickets – SOLD OUT
Remaining tickets are $250 each  - Click here to purchase tickets.

The night will include:

• An evening of mingling and playing casino games with the entire Caps team along with coaches and select alumni
• Free chips that will allow you to play blackjack, Texas hold ‘em, roulette, craps and slots
• Free food, beverages and live entertainment
• Instructional gaming tables where you can learn how to play or brush up on your skills
• Video game stations where you can challenge your favorite Caps player, coach or alumnus to a game of Guitar Hero or Wii bowling
• A silent auction featuring Capitals game-used jerseys, sticks and skates, plus autographed items from marquee players around the NHL and professional athletes like LeBron James, Adrian Peterson and Tony Hawk
• A live auction featuring unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences with players and coaches that fans won’t have access to anywhere else
• A raffle featuring autographed memorabilia, hotel stays and gift certificates
• The chance to win a Mercedes Benz
• Free Parking
• Tickets are limited and will go fast – only 500 total are available!
• Please contact the Washington Capitals at CasinoNight@washcaps.com for additional information.
• All proceeds will benefit Washington Capitals Charities.
• Each ticket, less benefit received of $100, is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
• Room rate discounts at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center. Click for more info.

Caps News Network congratulates the newlyweds, William ("The Goat") and Jill who got married Saturday. Photos posted by Wes Johnson on Twitter.

The newlyweds

Wedding Cake

 Wes captured this perfectly - A new AMC series; "LOUD MEN."

And just in case you don't recognize William in the
wedding photos, here is how you usually see him.....

Photo 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/

Capitals News Network. All Rights Reserved.

The generosity of Caps fans never ceases to amaze me.

The "Fall Puck Surprise" was another huge success at Saturday's game against the Bruins. 450 pucks were sold in 45 minutes which raised $18,000 for Caps' charities!

Fans selected autographed pucks not knowing who they would get.

A New Caps fan picked 89 (Sloan) and 16 (Fehr).

Photos 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/

Capitals News Network. All Rights Reserved.

HAPPY 32nd BIRTHDAY KEITH AUCOIN!!

(Born in Waltham, MA)

Keith Aucoin is currently on the Hershey Bears roster.  Aucoin was a member of the 2010 Calder Cup team, an AHL All-Star and was the  2010 AHL Most Valuable Player!  A belated Best Wishes and Congratulations to Aucoin who got married over the summer.

Photo 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/
Capitals News Network. All Rights Reserved.

WHO: Mike Green (Washington Capitals, #52) Fundraiser feat. G Love and Special Sauce

WHAT: Special VIP Package available! Proceeds benefit So Kids Can; Arlington Food Assistance Center. Surprise special celebrity guest appearances!

WHERE: 9:30 Club Washington, DC

WHEN: Mon, December 13, 2010 8:00 PM

Mike Green: $50 General Admission or $500 VIP - VIP ticket includes Early Entry for 2 people (7PM), Early Reception w/ hors d'oeuvres and a Meet & Greet/Autograph signing w/ Mike Green, Exclusive VIP section access and a Meet & Greet with Garrett Dutton (G Love)

Here are a few photos from warmups before the game on Friday, November 5, 2010.

David Steckel

John Carlson

John Erskine - nice progress on the mustache!

Michael Neuvirth

Tyler Sloan

Brooks Laich

Nicklas Backstrom

Marcus Johnasson

Zdeno Chara

Tomas "Flash" Fleischmann

Jason Chimera

Alex Semin

Braden Holtby - made his NHL debut during 3rd period

Holtby

Mike Green

Mike Knuble

Alex Ovechkin

Photos 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/
Capitals News Network. All Rights Reserved.