Caps Host Hockey Fights Cancer Night

When the puck drops tonight against the Atlanta Thrashers, the Capitals will be looking to fight more than just the foe on the ice as they participate in Hockey Fights Cancer night at Verizon Center. Several players have had their own personal experiences living with family members diagnosed with cancer. During tonight's pre-game ceremony, players Matt Bradley, Mike Knuble and Tyler Sloan, whose mothers have all battled cancer, will help recognize 30 very special Caps fans. This group includes the true heroes who have battled, beaten, helped treat or been personally touched by leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s Disease or myeloma. Each participant will be rocking the red in a T-shirt with the Caps logo on the front, the Hockey Fights Cancer logo on the back and the LLS (The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) logo on the sleeve. During tonight's game Mike Green (Green’s Gang) and Alex Ovechkin (Ovi’s Crazy 8’s) are donating their seats to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s National Capital Area Chapter. Attendees sitting in these sections will be blood cancer survivors and patients and will also be included in the on-ice ceremony.

During tonight's game, the Caps will also raise vital funds in the fight to erradicate cancer by hosting a jersey auction at the community relations table located at section 104 in Verizon Center benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s National Capital Area Chapter. These autographed home jerseys will be worn by players during warmups and will feature Hockey Fights Cancer patches on the front with the players’ names and numbers stitched in grey on the back. The red and grey jerseys are the same colors as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s logo.




The team is partnering this year with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The mission of LLS is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services. The Caps are encouraging fans to text HFC to 90999 to make a $5 donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and help find a cure for cancer. Fans can also donate specifically to the National Capital Area Chapter at http://www.lls.org/capsfans.

Hockey Fights Cancer is a joint charitable initiative founded in December 1998 by the National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association. It is supported by players, NHL member clubs, NHL alumni, the NHL Officials’ Association, professional hockey athletic trainers and equipment managers, corporate marketing partners, broadcast partners and fans throughout North America. The goal of Hockey Fights Cancer is to raise money and awareness for national and local organizations involved in cancer care and research. To date, Hockey Fights Cancer has raised more than $11 million. Hockey Fights Cancer is a component of The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice, the National Hockey League’s and National Hockey League Players’ Association’s social responsibility program that builds on hockey’s long-standing tradition of addressing important social issues in North America and around the world.



About The National Capital Area Chapter
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has 58 U.S. chapters, and the National Capital Area Chapter is one of the highest revenue-generating chapters in the nation. The National Capital Area Chapter serves Washington, D.C.; the Maryland counties of Prince George and Montgomery; and the Virginia Counties of Loudoun, Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria and Prince William. More than 2,500 patients and families are served by the chapter each year.


In other charitable news, one guy that really knows how to get under the skin of Capitals' faithful, has cut his signature flame-red hair and donated it to Locks for Love. Philadelphia Flyer forward Scott Hartnell, will look a little less like the GEICO Caveman from now on without his trademark mane flying out of his helmet. How about that new do, eh? Good for him though - a very, very worthwhile cause.