hockey

Charity Hockey Tournament Returns to Kettler

By Ethan Rothstein

Kettler Capitals IceplexThe annual Charity Hockey Classic will be held at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Ballston next month.

The event is held yearly to benefit Inova Blood Donor Services. A team of Washington Capitals alumni will take on corporate teams from Booz Allen Hamilton and Deloitte, as well as a group of youth hockey coaches from around Northern Virginia, called the Virginia Coaching Cardinals.

The event is scheduled for Sept. 7 at 7:00 p.m. Admission $10 but children wearing hockey jerseys are admitted free. The event features a round-robin format of 15-minute games, and is expected to run until 10:30 p.m.

Among those expected to participate are former Washington Capitals defenseman Gord Lane, this year’s honorary captain. There will also be appearances by Elliot Segal of DC101’s Elliot in the Morning, Capitals’ mascot Slapshot, and the Capitals’ spirit team, the Red Rockers.

Organizers hope to raise more than $70,000 to refurbish one of Inova’s older bloodmobiles.

Olympic Hockey Public Day Tickets Now Available

By Ethan Rothstein

USA Hockey player Patrick Kane signs autographs (via USA Hockey)(Updated at 10:30 a.m.) The U.S. Men’s Olympic hockey team will be in Arlington briefly next week, and tickets to catch a glimpse of the 40 players vying for a spot to represent their country in the Sochi Olympics in February are on sale now.

Doors open for the event, at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Ballston Aug. 27, at 7:00 a.m. and player autograph sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. There will also be open skate sessions at the Iceplex. Tickets may only be purchased in advance.

Those who purchase tickets won’t get the chance to see any hockey action, however — USA Hockey and the NHL couldn’t come to an agreement to allow the players to participate in hockey activities. Instead attendees will receive, according to USA Hockey, player autographs, a collectible puck, a limited-edition scarf, an American flag and pre-order access to the 2014 USA Hockey replica jerseys.

“This is a unique opportunity for fans to be part of an event that happens once every four years,” Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey, said in a press release. “It’s the first time we’ve conducted this camp in the nation’s capital region and what a great place to gather our top American players in preparation for Sochi.”

At 11:30 a.m., the official jerseys for the 2014 Olympics will be revealed, the players will be formally introduced — along with modeling their future jerseys — and there will be some crowd giveaways. Tickets are $40 for adults and $30 for youth 14 and under.

Photo via USA Hockey

U.S. Olympic Hockey Team to Hold Camp at Kettler Iceplex

By Ethan Rothstein

Kettler Capitals IceplexThe U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team will start preparing for the 2014 Winter Olympics at Kettler Capitals Iceplex later this month.

This is the first time the Iceplex has hosted a USA Hockey Orientation Camp. The Ballston facility will host the full contingent of USA Men’s Hockey, including Conn Smythe winner — the NHL’s award for its Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP — Patrick Kane and several members of the team that won the silver medal in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

The Olympians will be at the facility from Aug. 25-29, and the camp itself will be held from Aug. 26-27.

Just one Capitals player is among the 40 invited to the camp: defenseman John Carlson. The roster of players attending will not be finalized until closer to the camp’s start, according to Capitals officials.

Although the orientation itself will be closed to the public, one event will be open to fans who want to catch a glimpse of 2014’s Olympians. Nike will be hosting a USA Hockey jersey unveiling at the Iceplex Aug. 27 at 11:30 a.m. USA Hockey players will be modeling the jerseys, and fan attendance is encouraged.

‘Hockey is for Everyone’ Events in February

By Katie Pyzyk

Washington Capitals logoHockey is back in full swing and the Washington Capitals are celebrating with activities during the NHL’s “Hockey is for Everyone” Month.

The Hockey is for Everyone (HIFE) campaign is the official youth development program of the National Hockey League. It celebrates grassroots hockey and the growing diversity of the game. Many activities throughout the month are aimed at giving kids of all backgrounds opportunities to play the sport. The programs highlight essential life skills and the core values of hockey such as commitment, perseverance and teamwork. The initiative also supports hockey programs that assist disabled military personnel in returning to active lifestyles.

There are numerous events throughout the D.C. area for HIFE Month. The following events will take place in Arlington:

  • February 8 — The Capitals will team up with children’s charity Dreams for Kids to host an Extreme Recess Hockey Clinic at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Washington Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner, forward Jason Chimera and goaltender Braden Holtby will skate and play hockey with more than 100 children with physical and developmental disabilities.
  • February 14 — The Capitals have partnered with the Junior Women’s Hockey League (JWHL) to provide an all-girls hockey clinic for players ages 6-14. It will be held from 6:20-7:20 p.m. at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Participants must bring their own gear and pre-register online.
  • February 14-18 — The Capitals and Washington Pride will host the annual JWHL Challenge Cup at Kettler Capitals Iceplex (627 N. Glebe Road). Various teams from across the country will play in the tournament. Game schedules for the preliminary rounds can be found online.

A full schedule of all the HIFE Month events occurring throughout the D.C. area is available online.

In addition to the HIFE events, hockey fans in Arlington can catch a free high school hockey game at Kettler Capitals Iceplex this week. The Yorktown Ice Hockey Club will face off against Madison at 6:40 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8.

Capitals Still Locked Out, but Kettler Hosts Yorktown Hockey

By Katie Pyzyk

Yorktown High School logoThe Capitals’ season may be in shambles due to the ongoing NHL lockout, but all is not lost for fans wishing to take in some hockey. The Yorktown High School hockey team is playing a home game at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex (627 N. Glebe Road) in Ballston on Friday.

The Yorktown Ice Hockey Club has been in existence since 2003. The team has not been granted sports team status at the school, but is instead considered an “interest club.” It’s part of the Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League, which is the premier high school level league in Northern Virginia, and was bumped up from junior varsity to varsity this year.

One of the coaches boasted to ARLnow.com about having the league’s leading goal scorer on his team. Cameron Smith has scored 17 goals in three games, including a record-setting 11 in one game. So far this year, the team is 2-2.

Friday’s game against Broad Run High School begins at 6:40 p.m. at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in the Ballston Mall. It’s free to attend.

After this Friday, there will be two more Yorktown home games at Kettler. The team will play Osbourne Park at 6:40 p.m. on Friday, January 4, and Madison on Friday, February 8.

Charity Hockey Classic Returns to Kettler Iceplex

By ARLnow.com

What do cops, consultants, hockey coaches, radio personalities and current and former Washington Capitals players have in common? They’re all expected to help raise money and awareness for blood donation at Kettler Capitals Iceplex (627 North Glebe Road) next month.

Under the slogan of “Give Blood, Play Hockey,” Inova Blood Donor Services is holding its fourth annual Charity Hockey Classic fundraiser at the ice rink in Ballston on Sept. 9. Tickets for the event are available online.

More information about the fundraiser, from a press release:

Inova Blood Donor Services is asking the local community to “give blood, play hockey” as they host their fourth annual fundraising event, the Charity Hockey Classic, which will — for the first time — feature members of the Washington Capitals Alumni facing off against three local teams, including two-time defending champion Virginia Coaching Cardinals on Sunday, September 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex.

Admission to see the Capitals Alumni compete in this round-robin tournament against the Booz Allen Minutemen, Northern Virginia Law Enforcers and Coaching Cardinals is $10 per person and FREE for kids. All fans are encouraged to wear their hockey jerseys.

“The fourth Charity Hockey Classic promises to be another spirited day of competition and charitable giving by the local hockey community,” said Charity Hockey Classic Chairman Adam Bartholomew. “We are thrilled and grateful to welcome the Washington Capitals Alumni program for the first time and appreciate the support of our two returning squads along with the Northern Virginia Law Enforcers for their support of our mission to provide a safe and adequate blood supply to the entire DC metro area.”

The Capitals alumni team, which will also include some front office staffers, is in the process of assembling with a final team roster anticipated later this month. Current Washington Capitals teammates Matt Hendricks and Jeff Schultz have offered their support in the past serving as honorary captains.

The Cardinals, a ‘flock’ of youth hockey coaches from across Northern Virginia, blanked the Booz Allen Minutemen (Booz Allen Hamilton’s corporate hockey team) in last year’s contest by a score of 5-0, and look to defend their title, securing a three-peat in 2012. The Cardinals roster consists of coaches from local youth hockey programs including the Ashburn Xtreme, Reston Raiders, NoVA Ice Dogs, and Washington Little Caps. The Booz Allen Minutemen features employees from across the region while local officers and patrolmen will comprise the hard-charging Northern Virginia Law Enforcers. Each squad will face one another in a 15-minute mini-game.

The beneficiary of the Charity Hockey Classic is Inova Blood Donor Services, a service line to the not-for-profit Inova Health System that collects, tests and provides blood and blood products each day to 15 hospitals and medical centers throughout the Washington, D.C. metro area. In 2011, the event raised over $65,000 – up from $40,000 in 2010 (an increase of over 60%) and pushing the three-year total to just over $146,000 The goal for 2012 has been set to raise $90,000, which is needed to refurbish one of Inova’s older bloodmobiles.

Kettler Capitals Iceplex (home of the Washington Capitals) will host the event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its location atop Ballston Common Mall. Other attractions and game entertainment include a silent auction, local celebrity appearances by radio personalities, Mike O’Meara, Oscar Santana, Buzz Burbank and Robb Spewak from The Mike O’Meara Show, Capital’s mascot Slapshot and spirit team, the Red Rockers. And be sure to catch the intermission games with mini-mites youth hockey and the popular chuck-a-duck promotion.

Inova Blood Donor Services, a 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Sterling, VA, also maintains its strong ties to the hockey community as the Official Blood Collection Agency of the Washington Capitals in addition to partnerships with the Washington Nationals and George Mason University.

Crystal City Fit Week Kicks Off a Season of Events

By Katie Pyzyk

Today marked the start of Crystal City’s “Fit Week,” a series of events “designed to keep the community fit, healthy, and green.”

It began this morning with outdoor yoga at the Crystal City Water Park (1750 Crystal Drive). The free yoga sessions will continue every Monday through September, starting at 7:00 a.m.

Tomorrow, the FRESHFARM Farmers Market returns with a variety of items from local growers and producers. The market is open from 3:00-7:00 p.m., and will be held every Tuesday through November on Crystal Drive between 18th and 20th Streets.

On Wednesday, another outdoor class will get participants moving. A Zumba class will be held at noon in the courtyard at 2121 Crystal Drive. This class will take place every Wednesday through September. Anyone who takes part can freshen up afterward with a free shower at the nearby Sport & Health club.

A “Fit Fair” will be held at Crystal Drive and 18th Street from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday. A number of health screenings will be available, including blood pressure, stress test, body mass index, and a gait analysis for runners. Attendees can get information on smoking cessation or receive a chair massage. A blood donation station will also be set up.

Thursday night, a new season of street hockey will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot adjacent to 220 20th Street. Matches run for 11 weeks on Thursday evenings or Sunday mornings. Individuals pay a $25 fee and teams pay a $250 fee.

The final Fit Week event, called the Floral Frenzy, is on Friday. Residents and workers are invited to dig up the thousands of tulip bulbs along the sidewalk in front of 2121 Crystal Drive. The bulbs can be replanted at home and should continue to bloom for several years.

More information about Crystal City Fit Week can be found online.

Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Obama to Appear in Arlington on Friday — President Obama will deliver a speech about the economy at Arlington’s Fire Station 5 on Friday. The fire station is located on S. Hayes Street in Aurora Highlands, a couple of blocks from Pentagon City mall. [Washington Post]

Three Candidates Running for School Board — There are now three Democratic candidates running for two open Arlington County School Board seats: Emma Violand-Sanchez (incumbent), Noah Simon and Larry Fishtahler. Arlington Democrats will endorse two candidates at a May caucus. [Sun Gazette]

Arlington Fire Hockey Team to Play Fairfax — The Arlington Fire Hockey Team, made up of personnel from Arlington County’s fire and police departments, will face off against the Fairfax County Fire team on Saturday, from about 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The game is being played at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Ballston (627 N. Glebe Road). Tickets are $5 for adults and benefit a hockey club for athletes with developmental disabilities. Kids 12 and under are free. [NOVA Cool Cats]

Board Won’t Consider Office Project This Month — The site plan for an office development in Courthouse, originally expected to be considered by the Arlington County Board this weekend month, is being pushed back a bit. It’s now expected to be voted on by the Board in March, April or even later.

Kettler to Host Charity Hockey Game on Saturday

By ARLnow.com

The NHL season doesn’t start for another month, but local fans will be able to get their fill of hockey action this Saturday at Ballston’s Kettler Capital Iceplex (627 North Glebe Road), during the third annual Charity Hockey Classic.

The charity game, which benefits Inova Blood Donor Services, will pit the Booz Allen Hamilton Minutemen corporate hockey team against the returning champion Virginia Coaching Cardinals, a squad of local youth hockey coaches. John “Cakes” Auville and Eric “E.B.” Bickel — of the Sports Junkies morning show on 106.7 The Fan — will serve as guest coaches, along with Capitals teammates Matt Hendricks and Jeff Schultz.

The event, which is being held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, will also feature a silent auction, appearances by local celebrities, ‘Mites on Ice’ youth hockey exhibitions and “the ever-popular ‘chuck-a-duck’ contest,” according to a press release. Tickets are $10 for adults and free for kids. Organizers hope to raise $40,000 to purchase a blood testing machine for Inova.

Arlington First Responders Place First in Hockey Tourney

By ARLnow.com

The team was formed less than two months ago, and they only got their jerseys the day before their first game, but Arlington cops and firefighters managed to take first place in a charity hockey tournament over the weekend,

The joint ACFD/ACPD team beat Montgomery County Fire (score: 5-1), D.C. Fire (score: 7-0) and Baltimore City Fire (twice) to win their division at the annual D.C. Firefighters Burn Foundation hockey tournament in Laurel, Md. They won 5-4 in overtime in the championship game against Baltimore City on Sunday.

Team organizer Sean Spencer says the 30-man roster contains people who have been playing ice hockey since they were kids and people who just took up the sport in the past couple of years. They had great chemistry on the ice, he said, despite only playing together as a team one time prior to the tournament.

“We’re pretty happy with the outcome,” Spencer said. “[The players] are ecstatic we got a team together and were successful at the level we were.”

Spencer says the D.C. and Baltimore fire teams have already asked for a rematch. To facilitate that, he’s planning on talking to Ballston’s Kettler Capitals Iceplex about setting up a charity tournament in a couple of months, to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Photo via Facebook

In Case You Were Wondering: The Hockey RV in Courthouse

By ARLnow.com

If you caught a glimpse of this RV parked outside the Court Suites Hotel in Courthouse, you may have wondered what the heck it’s doing there. If you count yourself as a hockey fan or a video game nut, you may have also been tempted to go up and knock on the door.

The RV is on a tour of the U.S. and Canada to promote the “real hockey experience” of playing NHL 2K11 on the Nintendo Wii.

It’s here in Arlington in advance of two promotional appearances this weekend: Saturday at a GameStop in Rockville (14929 Shady Grove Road), and Sunday at a Best Buy in Alexandria (5901 Stevenson Ave). Both appareances will take place from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

DC is among a handful of hockey meccas on the east coast where the RV is making a stop. The two weekend appearances are the only items on the official schedule, but with the RV crew staying so close to the Caps training facility they have to be planning on going over there and witnessing a real real hockey experience, right?

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