FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2011

Monumental Report to Serve as Hyper-Local Online Community Platform

Website links to local sports, entertainment and community news

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Monumental Report, a new media platform featuring links to local sports, entertainment and community news and resources, was launched today by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, announced Ted Leonsis, the company’s founder and chairman.

Updated daily, Monumental Report (http://www.monumentalreport.com) provides visitors with a central location to access current information related to teams, venues and communities within the D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia region.

“Monumental Report is a unique tool designed to connect people with what matters to them in their community,” said Leonsis. “Millions of people visit our venues each year, and we are excited to launch Monumental Report for them as an interactive guide to the area. The website also supports the growth of regional businesses through content that drives consumers to local establishments.”

With an emphasis on sports, entertainment, dining, small business, philanthropy and community, Monumental Report includes a variety of links and information as well as original content.

The website’s sports features include daily links aimed at fans of the NHL’s Washington Capitals, the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics as well as links to local college and university teams and updates on local youth and amateur sports tournaments and camps.

Interactive maps highlighting businesses to visit around the Verizon Center, Kettler Capitals Iceplex and George Mason University’s Patriot Center are included among in the site’s entertainment content. In addition to restaurant, movie and entertainment reviews, Monumental Report contains details about upcoming concerts and music artists. A comprehensive calendar provides an overview of upcoming events throughout the region. Focusing on the community, the website consists of neighborhood notes, business news and information on area events and charities.

In addition to interactive maps, Monumental Report utilizes several other forms of technology. Real-time Twitter feeds featuring tweets by athletes, artists, fans and the media showcase the latest conversations in the region. Foursquare, Facebook news feeds and photo hosting are incorporated into the website. Monumental Report also will offer several new advertising options to small businesses.

“Monumental Sports & Entertainment is most commonly recognized as owning the Capitals, Wizards, Mystics and the Verizon Center, but fundamentally we are a content, local e-commerce and network media company,” Leonsis said. “The launch of Monumental Report is another step in our ongoing evolution as a bricks and clicks new media entity. We have a major positive impact on local businesses, and we are committed to supporting our partners as well as local fans and consumers with this unique new property.”

Monumental Sports & Entertainment is one of the largest integrated sports and entertainment companies in the country with one of the most diverse partnership groups in all of sports. Monumental Sports owns and operates three professional sports teams: the NBA’s Washington Wizards, NHL’s Washington Capitals and WNBA’s Washington Mystics. The group also owns and operates Verizon Center, the premier sports and entertainment venue in Washington, D.C., oversees the management of Kettler Capitals Iceplex, the state-of-the-art training facility for the Capitals, and George Mason University’s Patriot Center.

HAPPY 23rd BIRTHDAY KARL ALZNER!!

(Born on 9/24/1988 in Burnaby, BC, Canada)

Photo 2011 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/
Capitals News Network. All Rights Reserved.

COMCAST SPORTSNET TO TELEVISE 71 CAPITALS GAMES DURING 2011-12 NHL REGULAR SEASON

NBC SPORTS GROUP NETWORKS TO PROVIDE CAPITALS’ FULL 82-GAME SCHEDULE

‘CAPITALS CENTRAL’ AND ‘CAPITALS POSTGAME LIVE’ RETURN THIS SEASON

Bethesda, Md. (Sept. 19, 2011) – Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, the region’s leading source for multiplatform sports coverage, and the Washington Capitals have announced the team’s 71-game regional television schedule for the 2011-12 NHL regular season. The network’s coverage, which begins with the Capitals’ season opener against Carolina on Oct. 8, will again feature comprehensive pregame and postgame coverage with ‘Capitals Central’ and ‘Capitals Postgame Live.’

Through Comcast SportsNet and national NHL television partners NBC and VERSUS – which will be re-branded NBC Sports Network on Jan. 2 – the Capitals’ entire 82-game regular-season schedule will be delivered throughout the region by the NBC Sports Group. As previously announced, VERSUS will televise six games exclusively, with five scheduled as exclusive NBC/VERSUS ‘flex’ games, with the network being determined at a later time. In addition, VERSUS will air four Capitals games to a national audience outside the region, with Comcast SportsNet providing exclusive coverage regionally.

Comcast SportsNet’s coverage of the Capitals – which was recently honored with an Emmy Award as the region’s top live sporting event production – will be led by six-time Emmy Award-winning play-by-play announcer Joe Beninati. He will again be joined by veteran hockey analyst Craig Laughlin and longtime sideline reporter Al Koken, who are entering their 15th consecutive season together as the on-air team covering the Capitals.

‘Capitals Central’ and ‘Capitals Postgame Live’ return to Comcast SportsNet this season to provide extended team coverage surrounding the game. Alan May will again serve as analyst for the half-hour pregame and postgame shows, with Al Koken hosting during road games. A new host for home games will be announced by the network shortly. Beninati and Laughlin will contribute to the coverage from the arena, with Jill Sorenson – the network’s Capitals television beat reporter – and CSNwashington.com ‘Capitals Insider’ Chuck Gormley providing reports and features.

Comcast SportsNet’s television coverage of the upcoming Capitals’ season includes 61 games on Comcast SportsNet and 10 games on Comcast SportsNet Plus. The network’s entire 71-game Capitals’ schedule will be available in HD to all cable and satellite providers throughout the region. For information regarding Comcast SportsNet Plus HD carriage and channel location, check with your provider or go to CSNwashington.com or CSNbaltimore.com for information.

Comcast SportsNet’s coverage of the 2010-11 Capitals delivered record television ratings in several categories. The network posted its fourth consecutive season of double-digit increases in household ratings during the regular season, setting a new all-time high by 12 percent. Comcast SportsNet also recorded the top playoff series rating in network history during the 2011 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the N.Y. Rangers, which topped the 2010 first round by seven percent.


CSN CAPITALS TV SCHEDULE


REGIONAL TV SCHEDULE

Looks like fans aren't the only ones excited that hockey is right around the corner! Lots of smiles on players faces today when they took the ice for the first time for 2011 season. Enjoy these photos.  

All Photos by: Cheryl Nichols/CapsNewsNetwork

Semin

Weller

Ovechkin

Perreault

Hendricks

Ovi

Backstrom

Laich

Halpern

Chimera

Aucoin

С ДНЁМ РОЖДЕНИЯ

ALEX OVECHKIN!
HAPPY 26TH BIRTHDAY OVI!
(Born on 9/17/1985 in Moscow, Russia)






Outdoor practice before Winter Classic

Photos © Cheryl Nichols/CapsNewsNetwork. 
All Rights Reserved.

HAPPY 22nd BIRTHDAY BRADEN HOLTBY!!

(Born on 9/16/1989 in Lloydminster, SK, Canada)

Photo 2011 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/
Capitals News Network. All Rights Reserved.

If you haven't already done so, check out "The Official Site of Brooks Laich." 

Sign up to be the Fan of the Month and win BL21 autographed memorabilia or shop online.. 

You can also submit questions to Laich under "Ask Brooks."

There are several excellent photos of Laich in the galleries. I noticed that three photos were mine. Guess I should be flattered!

Also, join the Brooks Laich Fan Page on Facebook.

Washington Capitals Captain Alex Ovechkin, left wing Jason Chimera and mascot Slapshot visited Saint James Catholic School in Falls Church, Virginia on Monday, September 12 to demonstrate and teach floor hockey to 220 fifth through eighth graders.

The students normally wear uniforms to school, however, got to wear "gym clothes" on Monday for the hockey session and almost everyone was rocking the red. A handful were even wearing Capitals jerseys.

The Saint James School physical education teacher, Jane Briggs, wrote to the Capitals to express her students interest in hockey and was selected as one of the Hockey Schools. Briggs wanted to "introduce [hockey] to them because it's a game that anyone can play" and she wanted to promote the game which she added to her curriculum.

Caps presented an "Official Capitals Hockey School" banner

The players started the clinic by answering questions from the students. The kids had put in a lot of thought and wrote questions on cards ahead of time. One student asked players, "Who is the best player in hockey?" Chimera said Ovi and Ovi said Chimera which was followed by a lot of laughter and applause from the crowd.

Along with the Caps Amateur Hockey & Fan Development Coordinator, Peter Robinson, Alex and Jason demonstrated basic hockey skills such as stick handling, passing, shooting with the help of Slapshot. As excited as the kids were to see Chimera and Ovi, they went wild for Slapshot!

Students volunteered to get hands on training after each new skill was introduced. Two students even dressed up in goalie gear and protected their net during a scrimmage. It was "boys against girls" and Chimera lead the boys to a 1-0 victory over Ovi and the girls.

After the hockey session, Briggs and several of the other teachers and staff commented on how much fun the students had and thanked the Caps players for coming. Briggs was beaming and said, "It was the best assembly I think I've ever had."

Chimera and Ovechkin with Saint James School Teachers and Staff

As a special treat, fifth graders sang a song for the Capitals and thanking them for coming to their school. 

I'm not sure who had more fun, the students or Alex Ovechkin! Ovi was all smiles.

All of the students who participated in the hockey session received pre-signed autographed player cards from Ovechkin and Chimera as well as Caps soft pucks and Hockey 101 booklets. 

This was the second Capitals Hockey School visit this season. The Capitals host two Hockey School visits each month between September and May and donate street hockey equipment to each participating school. This is the fifth-consecutive year the Capitals have conducted this rewarding program. The Caps have hosted more than 50 clinics and reached more than 7,500 students in the past four years. Hockey School is a free program, designed to be both instructional and interactive, with the goal of exposing students to floor hockey while teaching proper technique.

Equipment donated to school

Additional Photos:

Ovi peeking around the corner before being announced

Chimera introducing himself

Ovi introducing himself and making everyone laugh, including Chimera

Ovi introducing himself

Q&A Session

Q&A Session

Ovi couldn't help himself - kept bouncing the ball on stick

Slapshot

Ovi and Chimera showed how to pass over Slapshot

Chimera and Ovechkin listening to the fifth graders sing

Chimera and Ovechkin with Jane Briggs

Watch video from washcaps.com:

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin will throw out the Ceremonial First Pitch at the Baltimore Orioles game at Camden Yards on Friday, Sept. 16. Ovechkin will throw the first pitch prior to the Orioles game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, which is slated to begin at 7:05 p.m.

Washington will play its first preseason game at the Baltimore Hockey Classic on Tuesday, Sept. 20 vs. Nashville at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore. The Capitals will open the 2011-12 regular season versus the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Verizon Center.

Washington Capitals/Wizards/Mystics owner Ted Leonsis was on Elliot in the Morning Monday, September 12, 2011 and chatted about the Caps, Capitals Convention, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, 'Walk With Us To Cure Lupus,' and more. Listen to the audio below.




Register for "Walk With Us To Cure Lupus" here. The walk is Sunday, October 2, 2011 on the Nationals Mall.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / September 7, 2011

NHL AND WASHINGTON CAPITALS TEAM UP FOR $10,000 DONATION

TO SUPPORT USA WARRIORS ICE HOCKEY PROGRAM

Caps’ forward Mike Knuble to participate in ceremonial

puck drop and check presentation

NEW YORK (September 7, 2011) – The National Hockey League (NHL) and the Washington Capitals today announced plans to present a $10,000 donation to the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program during a special charity event in support of the nonprofit hockey organization.

USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program, sanctioned by USA Hockey and a member of the NHL’s Hockey is for Everyone™ initiative, is a nonprofit organization serving military personnel wounded in defense of the United States. The nationally recognized program leverages the sport of hockey as a catalyst to assist disabled soldiers as they return to mainstream lifestyles.

The charity event will feature hockey-playing Capitol Hill staff members matched up against the Warrior team. Washington Capitals alternate captain Mike Knuble is scheduled to participate in the ceremonial puck drop and check presentation. The event will take place at 7 p.m. at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va.

“The NHL is proud to continue its ongoing philanthropic efforts with this donation in support of the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program,” said Ken Martin, Jr., NHL Vice President of Community Affairs. “On behalf of the NHL family we proudly present this gift in honor of these Warriors who find joy playing our great game.”

“Washington Capitals Charities is proud to partner with the NHL in supporting the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program,” said Elizabeth Wodatch, director of community relations for the Washington Capitals. “We admire the courage and dedication of these Warriors and appreciate their service to our country”.

“On behalf of USA Warrior Hockey and all military veterans we would like to thank the National Hockey League and the Washington Capitals for their generous donation,” said Michael Vaccaro, member of the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program and director of the charity event.

Founded in 2007, the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program trains and supplies injured soldiers with hockey equipment and the skills needed to use the sport of hockey as a rehabilitation tool to overcome both physical and mental injuries sustained in combat. In 2010, the NHL, Washington Capitals and Verizon Wireless partnered to donate multiple sets of official NHL-licensed ice hockey equipment and apparel in support of the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program. Verizon Wireless donated equipment used during the production of two TV spots for the 2009-10 NHL season.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 9, 2011

Matt Hendricks, Michal Neuvirth, Assistant Coach Dean Evason Host Capitals Hockey School at Glassmanor Elementary School

ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals center Matt Hendricks, goaltender Michal Neuvirth, assistant coach Dean Evason and Slapshot visited Glassmanor Elementary School in Oxon Hill, Md., on Thursday, Sept. 8 to host the Capitals Hockey School. The trio began the session fielding questions from students in the school’s recreation center before directing a floor hockey clinic with more than 100 third- through sixth-grade students.

Led by Evason, Hendricks and Neuvirth instructed the students on puck-handling, passing and shooting before hosting a skills competition. Two students volunteered to be dressed as goaltenders and received some personal advice from Neuvirth, who showed them how to put on the pads and how to handle the goalie stick.

Following the competition, the students scrimmaged with the pair of players and Slapshot. The staff also had a chance to participate, beating the students in a friendly scrimmage. The hour-long program concluded with the Capitals donating a set of hockey equipment to the elementary school.

“The kids had great energy today and really got into it once we showed them how to hold the stick,” said Hendricks. “They asked some really good questions today too,” said Neuvirth.
All students who participated in the session received autographed player cards from Hendricks and Neuvirth, Caps squishy pucks and Hockey 101 booklets. The school also received an official Capitals Hockey School banner to display in their school year-round.

This was the first Capitals Hockey School visit this season. The Capitals host two Hockey School visits each month between September and May and donate street hockey equipment to each participating school.

This is the fifth consecutive year the Capitals have conducted their Hockey School program. The Caps have hosted more than 50 clinics and reached more than 7,500 students in the past four years. Hockey School is a free program, designed to be both instructional and interactive, with the goal of exposing students to floor hockey while teaching proper technique.

Photos Courtesy of the Washington Capitals:

PHOTO CAPTION (Hendricks Glassmanor Ele): Washington Capitals center Matt Hendricks helps show a student at Glassmanor Elementary School in Oxon Hill, Md., how to hold a hockey stick during Capitals Hockey School.

PHOTO CAPTION (Neuvirth Glassmanor Ele): Washington Capitals goaltender Michal Neuvirth helps a student at Glassmanor Elementary School in Oxon Hill, Md., put on goalie equipment during Capitals Hockey School.

Washington Capitals fans have been anxiously waiting to pre-order the DVD of "24/7 Penguins/Capitals: Road to the NHL Winter Classic."

Click here and you can pre-order now. $19.98. The website indicates that it will ship November 15, 2011.

Photo: HBO Shop Website

Description from HBO Shop Website:

This four-part 24/7 series charts the activities of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals, two of the National Hockey League’s most electrifying and successful teams, as they gear up for a big-event showdown in this year’s NHL Winter Classic, the only NHL game played annually in an outdoor stadium. Chronicling the highs and lows of each team every week for four weeks, 24/7 Penguins/Capitals will feature exclusive footage of players and management in the locker room, on the ice, and at leisure as they make their way through the 2010-2011 hockey season, and eagerly eye their January 1 showdown.

From the Caps Website:

For the past two seasons, the Washington Capitals have kicked off the NHL’s regular season with the Caps Convention, a day-long interactive and informational celebration of the Capitals. The event has been a tremendous success, attracting sold-out crowds of more than 6,500 fans eager to meet both current and former players.

Perhaps one of the biggest and most exciting reasons for this success comes from the numerous panel discussions that fill the agenda. Each discussion is designed to offer Caps fans an inside look into a specific area of hockey. The 2011 Capitals Convention presented by GEICO will feature some of the most anticipated panel discussions to date and include:

Giving Back – Caps players discuss the different community programs that they are a part of and how much they enjoy getting involved.

24/7 Behind the Scenes – A chance for fans to go behind the scenes and see how HBO produced, edited, and aired their ground-breaking show.

Coming to America – Players discuss the difficulties and challenges involved in coming to a new country to live and work.

Goalies and Their Odd Ways – Step into the minds of some NHL netminders and learn about how they prepare for battle on a daily basis.

20 Questions with Ted – Caps majority owner Ted Leonsis will answer questions from fans in this interactive panel.

Embracing Your New Teammates presented by Coors Light - Hear from some of the newest members of the team about what it’s like to walk into a locker room for the first time, meet new teammates and listen to their thoughts on coming to Washington.

Kids Press Conference presented by Dasani - Kids 14 and under have the opportunity to ask questions to players on the panel.

I Made it to the NHL - Players discuss what it's like to realize their lifelong dream of playing in the NHL.

From the Ice to the Booth presented by Outback Steakhouse – The panel will talk about how a career in the NHL prepared them for their current broadcasting careers.

The Pain From Last Night - Hear from Caps alumni about the Alumni Game from the night before and how they are feeling the morning after.

Coach’s Corner - Hear what the Caps' coaching staff has to say about getting the team ready to play on a daily basis.

Equipment – The Capitals equipment staff displays various articles of equipment and explains how each piece if kept in playing condition.

NBC Sports Contract and Scheduling - Learn about the ongoing dynamic between a league and a network and what goes into being good partners as well as how the league and the network work on scheduling and showing games.

Ask the GM - Listen to vice president and general manager George McPhee talk about the team's preparation for the draft and how the team integrates the opinions of its scouts in a process that spans the entire 12 months of the calendar.

Capology III: Three Capitals, Three Contracts - Capitals Assistant General Manager/Director of Legal Affairs Don Fishman walks the audience through contract negotiations with three current Capitals players.

The support it takes to make it to the NHL - Players and family members sit on this panel to discuss the sacrifices every family made for the ultimate payoff of watching them play in the NHL.

On The Road Again – Learn about what life is like on the road from the hotels to the pranks, players will share their experiences traveling with the team.

Rules, Officiating and Discipline - Listen to former NHL referee Bill McCreary and NHL Senior V.P. of Hockey Operations and Player Safety Brendan Shanahan discuss the ins and outs of officiating the game on the ice and adjudicating it off the ice.

The 2011 Capitals Convention presented by GEICO will take place on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at the Walter E Washington Convention Center. There are fewer than 1,000 convention tickets available so act fast.

Updated: Carlson talks baseball, training camp and recent hockey tragedies

after throwing out first pitch - See story here.

John Carlson to throw Ceremonial First Pitch at

Washington Nationals game on Thursday, Sept. 8

ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson will throw out the Ceremonial First Pitch at the Washington Nationals game on Thursday, Sept. 8. Carlson will throw the first pitch prior to the Nationals game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which is slated to begin at 1:05 p.m.

John Carlson was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team following his first full campaign in the league, matching a single-season Capitals franchise record for the most points by a rookie defenseman with 37. He finished 2010-11 leading all NHL rookie defensemen in ice time (22:38), was ranked third in plus/minus (+21), fourth in points (37), third in assists (30) and tied for fourth in goals (7). He led the team and all NHL rookies in blocked shots (160) during the regular season and finished second among rookies in playoff ice time (24:23).

Carlson was born in Natick, Mass. but spent most of his childhood in New Jersey. He was the Capitals’ first-round choice, 27th overall, in the 2008 Entry Draft.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 6, 2011

Washington Capitals Charities Donates $25,000 to Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey; 

Alex Ovechkin and Bauer Hockey donate hockey equipment

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Capitals have donated $25,000 to the Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association (PVAHA) to help grow the sport of hockey, the Washington Capitals announced at a press event today. In addition, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and Bauer Hockey have donated 108 full sets of youth hockey equipment to Kettler Capitals Iceplex and PVAHA.

Alex Ovechkin, Kevin Davis and George McPhee with PVAHA Kids

Washington Capitals Charities has donated $25,000 to PVAHA as part of the John Crerar Development Grant. This marks the third year in a row that the Capitals have donated to the USA Hockey affiliate for programs such as diversity hockey, disabled hockey, cross-ice hockey, Grow the Game programs and the American Development Model. Last year the money was distributed to 15 area hockey programs to increase participation and promote ice hockey within Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Thanks in part to Washington Capitals Charities grants, PVAHA had 1,298 new players during the 2010-11 season, an increase of 26.8% from the season before. To date Washington Capitals Charities has donated $70,000 to PVAHA.

Ted Leonsis, John Coleman, Alex Ovechkin and George McPhee

The John Crerar Hockey Development Grant is funded in part by donations from the Washington Capitals through the Washington Capitals Charities. Created in 2000, Washington Capitals Charities offers unique resources and Caps Care programs to other charities and organizations on behalf of the Capitals. Its mission is to create, maintain and support community programs in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area that encourage participation in hockey, serve to educate youth, assist those who are less fortunate and focus on health and wellness.

The purpose of the John Crerar Hockey Development Grant Program is to assist the member associations within PVAHA to increase participation and promote hockey development within Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Ovechkin, along with Bauer Hockey CEO Kevin Davis, made the announcement at a special ceremony at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Approximately 70 kids from clubs in D.C., Maryland and Virginia were joined by PVAHA president John Coleman and affiliate youth hockey growth coordinator Deb Moon at the event. Capitals majority owner and chairman Ted Leonsis as well as vice president and general manager George McPhee were also in attendance.

CEO Bauer Hockey Kevin Davis shaking hands with President of PVAHA John Coleman

Each set of equipment includes elbow, shoulder and shin pads, hockey pants, skates, gloves and sticks with 30 sets of equipment to be donated to Kettler Capitals Iceplex which will use the gear to create a Learn to Play hockey program for underserved children in the Arlington community. The remaining 78 sets of equipment will be distributed by PVAHA to help grow the sport. The Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club, Hampton Roads Whalers, Harford North Stars, Bowie Hockey Club, Navy Youth Hockey Association, Metro Maple Leafs and Southern Maryland Sabres Hockey Club will all receive donated equipment. Later this month, 108 additional sets of hockey equipment will be donated to the Dynamo youth hockey program in Moscow, Russia.