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.

The event first started off with autographs.

Time to Bowl! Everyone had a great time as you can tell from the photos.

David Steckel

Jeff Schultz

Jason Chimera

Mike Knuble

Karl Alnzer

Matt Hendricks

Jason Chimera with son

Ouch Gordo. Darn Downie.

Matt Hendricks enjoying watching teammates bowl.

D.J. King chatting with Kim Hendricks

Lots of cute kids bowling

Jason Chimera's son is the cutest thing. He's watching his ball roll down alley.

Mike Knuble played auctioneer and this signed Caps Winter Classic sold for $1,300

Karl Alzner's fiance Mandy made all of these cupcakes!

Photos 2011 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/
Caps News Network. All Rights Reserved.

Here are a few photos from the morning practice yesterday, January 17, 2011 before the Washington Capitals headed to Philadelphia for a three game road trip.

LL Cool B - "Ladies Love Brooks"

Neuvy making a save

Coach Bruce Boudreau keeping the boys moving

Andrew Gordon looks happy to be back with Caps

Hendy

Big John Erskine

Jay Beagle and his tongue

Ovi smiles during "Juice Boy"

Hannan

Matty P

1st Line Combo - Ovi, MoJo and Brooksy

What happened towards the end of practice was a first for me and apparently a first for most, including players.  This kind of thing might happen behind closed doors, but not during an open to the public practice.  DJ King showed Matt Hendricks some fight techniques and shared trade secrets.  It was fun to watch.  It was slow and they talked out each of the movements and when do use them.  Here are a few photos of the fight lesson. You can read about "Caps fight club" from Homer McFanboy.

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

HAPPY 27th BIRTHDAY BOYD GORDON!!

(Born in Unity, SK, Canada)

Boyd Gordon was the Washington Capitals 1st Draft Pick in 2002 (17th Overall).

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

Press Release:

Jay Beagle, Boyd Gordon Host Capitals Hockey School at Stuart-Hobson Middle School
Saturday, 09.12.2009 / 8:43 PM / Community

ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals right wings Jay Beagle and Boyd Gordon along with Slapshot visited Stuart-Hobson Middle School in Washington, D.C., this afternoon, Friday, Sept. 11, to host the Capitals Hockey School presented by Chevy Chase Bank. The duo began the session fielding questions from students in the middle school’s gym before directing a floor hockey session with the 150 excited fifth-eighth grader students.

Led by Peter Robinson, the Capitals amateur hockey and fan development coordinator, Beagle and Gordon instructed the students about puck-handling, passing and shooting, before hosting a skills competition. Following the competition, students scrimmaged with the pair of players. The hour-long program concluded with the Capitals donating a set of floor hockey equipment to the school.

“The students were really loud and excited to get out there and try their new skills,” Beagle said. “Beagle and I tried to teach the kids different skills, and the kids were pretty good,” Gordon said. All students who participated in the session received autographed player cards from Beagle and Gordon.

To designate them as graduates of Hockey School, all students who participated in the clinic received a Caps Hockey 101 booklet and a squishy puck.

This is the third consecutive year the Capitals have conducted the program. The Caps hosted 20 clinics and reached 2,500 local students the past two years. During the 2009-10 season, thousands of elementary and middle school students will graduate from Hockey School presented by Chevy Chase Bank. Students will benefit from question-and-answer sessions with Caps representatives, including Caps players and coaches, where they will share information about their hockey backgrounds and fun facts about hockey and the team. The Caps will teach skills through verbal instruction and demonstrations and allow students to sharpen their technique during the interactive clinics. At the end of each visit, students will receive Hockey 101 booklets, squishy pucks and autographed player cards to signify that they graduated from Hockey School presented by Chevy Chase Bank.