Caps Team Up to Help Wounded Warriors Ice Hockey

The Washington Capitals are teaming up with the NHL, Verizon Wireless and the Congressional Hockey Caucus tomorrow to help some of our country's true heroes participate in the sport they love. The group will aid those who've so bravely served and sacrificed to preserve our freedom starting at 10:30 a.m. at Capitals Kettler Iceplex by donating multiple multiple sets of official NHL-licensed ice hockey equipment and apparel in support of the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program. The donation will be made prior to a special on-ice clinic featuring former NHLers, the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Team and representatives from the NHL and Verizon Wireless. Following the clinic, former NHLers will visit wounded warriors hospitalized at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.


Verizon Wireless will donate equipment used during the production of two TV spots for the 2009-10 NHL season. The spots, “Tarmac” and “Encore,” promote the new NHL Ice TimeTM mobile application, available exclusively to Verizon Wireless subscribers,and feature players from the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, including Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and Mike Richards.

Grant Fuhr, Five-time Stanley Cup Champion and Hockey Hall of Famer; Joseph Bowser, Retired SGT. First Class & Hockey is for Everyone Ambassador; Ken Martin, NHL Vice President of Community Affairs; Bob Woods, Washington Capitals Assistant Coach, Karen Hadley, Verizon Wireless Associate Director of Partnerships; Bob Banach, President of the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program; Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY), co-chair of the Congressional Hockey Caucus; Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), co-chair of the Congressional Hockey Caucus; and Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE), co-chair of the Congressional Hockey Caucus will all be on hand to support this terrific program and the honorable men and women from the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program.

Following the presentation, there will be a ceremonial puck drop & on-ice clinic led by Fuhr and Caps' assistant coach Bob Woods.

ABOUT USA WARRIORS ICE HOCKEY PROGRAM
The USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program is a non-profit organization that provides programming for U.S. military personnel wounded in combat. In conjunction with the USA Disabled Hockey Program, the Program's mission is to organize and administer an ice hockey program that provides a recreational, educational and therapeutic experience for its participants.

ABOUT THE CONGRESSIONAL HOCKEY CAUCUS
The Congressional Hockey Caucus is an informal, bipartisan group of Members of Congress dedicated to advocating for the expansion of youth hockey programs in America, with special attention to programs for disadvantaged youth who might not otherwise be able to afford to participate in the sport. Co-chaired by Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY), Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) and Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), the Caucus recognizes the profound effect that youth hockey has on the development of children in our community.