Capitals Mike Knuble and Tyler Sloan will share their personal experiences from last season ranging from the countless successes during their President's Trophy-winning regular season to the heartfelt disappointment after the shocking first round playoff exit tonight on the broadcast premiere of "The Hockey Diaries: The Almost Season." Hockey Mom will be tuning in to her trusty XM Sirius car radio to listen in as my boys see their first tournament action tonight and we'll be on the Beltway.
Sirius XM will air the event live from 7-9 p.m. ET – the documentary for the first hour followed by the studio Q & A that will be hosted by Sirius XM’S Glenn Younes – on NHL Home Ice XM 204 and SIRIUS 208.
Be sure to tune in tonight to hear the unique perspectives of both players regarding the highs and lows of the "Almost Season" that was 2009-2010.
Here's more info from the official press release:
NEW YORK (September 10, 2010) – Having chronicled their personal journeys through the eventful 2009-10 NHL season by recording their thoughts and observations, Washington Capitals Mike Knuble and Tyler Sloan will give fans a first-hand account of life in the NHL tonight with the premiere of “Hockey Diaries: The Almost Season,” presented by NHL Radio and broadcast on Sirius XM Radio and streamed on NHL.com .
Knuble will appear in person and in front of a live audience at Sirius XM’s Performance 1 Studio radio theater in Washington, D.C. Sloan will join via telephone as both players take questions from those in attendance and those calling in. Sirius XM will air the event live from 7-9 p.m. ET – the documentary for the first hour followed by the studio Q & A that will be hosted by Sirius XM’S Glenn Younes – on NHL Home Ice XM 204 and SIRIUS 208.
The show encourages NHL fans to call in with questions during the live special. The number to submit questions is 1-877-645-6696.
NHL Radio’s “The Almost Season” tells the story of the triumph and disappointment of the Caps’ 2009-10 season through the thoughtful audio diary entries of veteran forward Knuble and aspiring young defenseman Sloan supplemented by personal interviews and rich field recordings. “The Almost Season" captures the intensity of the game, the mood of the team and the psyche of the players as they chase down their four goals: win the division, win the Eastern Conference, win the Presidents' Trophy, win the Stanley Cup.
“The Almost Season” was produced in association with Gemma Hooley and Chris Nelson of Media Chameleon. The executive producer is Gregg Baldinger, director of NHL Radio.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Capitals Promote Youth Hockey with Dedicated Web Pages
A big stick tap to Capitals Senior Writer, Mike Vogel, who brought a new Caps' youth hockey initiative to HM's multi-tasking attention! As the youth season starts to get into full swing (my kids play their first tournament this weekend), the Caps have unveiled a new section on their Web site dedicated to the booming youth hockey movement in the D.C. area. HM can attest that learn-to-play enrollment has skyrocketed at our rink - greatly influenced by the success and popularity of our beloved Capitals. The squirt and mite house programs have grown at record pace and it's a joy to see these little guys on skates sporting their favorite Capitals' sweater (I can hardly remember when mine were that small - feigns long sigh).
The new Youth Hockey page has loads of helpful information for parents and kids of all ages who want to pursue their passion for puck. There's information on everything from what equipment you'll need to area rinks to local travel clubs. The equipment section goes into great detail about what to buy and how everything should fit. My own personal tip: buy mouthguards by the truckful! The minute they step on the ice for a tournament, you can rest assure that the 15 mouthguards you thought were floating around the bottom of the hockey bag are nowhere to be found. And the refs don't play that....
As for the awful smell of aforementioned equipment, I can't help so much with that. Febreze and washing what can go into the machine can make it a bit less nauseating but as the season goes on, you get used to it. Even the sticks smell - just sayin'.
The Caps have also added a Capitals Academy feature, which delves into the rules of the game and also spotlights some very cool instructional videos that youth coaches can incorporate into their own practice agendas.
Speaking of local youth hockey guys made good, former Capital Jeff Halpern has found a new home with those pesky Montreal Canadiens.
The new Youth Hockey page has loads of helpful information for parents and kids of all ages who want to pursue their passion for puck. There's information on everything from what equipment you'll need to area rinks to local travel clubs. The equipment section goes into great detail about what to buy and how everything should fit. My own personal tip: buy mouthguards by the truckful! The minute they step on the ice for a tournament, you can rest assure that the 15 mouthguards you thought were floating around the bottom of the hockey bag are nowhere to be found. And the refs don't play that....
As for the awful smell of aforementioned equipment, I can't help so much with that. Febreze and washing what can go into the machine can make it a bit less nauseating but as the season goes on, you get used to it. Even the sticks smell - just sayin'.
The Caps have also added a Capitals Academy feature, which delves into the rules of the game and also spotlights some very cool instructional videos that youth coaches can incorporate into their own practice agendas.
Speaking of local youth hockey guys made good, former Capital Jeff Halpern has found a new home with those pesky Montreal Canadiens.
Avalon Elementary Students Welcome Flash, Steckel, Coach Woods and Slapshot
David Steckel teaches stick handling to students.
Avalon Elementary fourth-sixth grade students in Temple Hills, Md., looked forward to recess a little more than usual yesterday as players David Steckel and Tomas Fleischmann were joined by assistant coach Bob Woods and Slapshot to participate in Capitals Hockey School, presented by Capital One Bank. Woods, Flash and Steckel began the session fielding questions from students in the elementary school’s multi-purpose room/cafeteria before directing a floor hockey clinic with the 145 excited fourth-sixth grade students.
Led by Woods, Fleischmann and Steckel instructed the students about puck-handling, passing and shooting, before hosting a skills competition. Following the competition, the students scrimmaged with the pair of players. The hour-long program concluded with a shootout - students versus teachers - on Slapshot. Hockey Mom is thinking that Slapshot may have had his work cut out for him trying to guard the crease against this new crop of "young guns"!
“The kids were really loud and excited about learning hockey,” Fleischmann said. “It was fun playing with the kids – teaching them how to shoot a slapshot,” Steckel said. All students who participated in the session received autographed player cards from Fleischmann and Steckel along with Caps Hockey 101 booklets and squishy pucks.
This was the first Capitals Hockey School visit this season. The Capitals do two Capitals Hockey School visits a month reaching more than 250 students through the clinics as well as donating the hockey equipment to the school so the kids can have a chance to practice what they learn.
And to think, the second day of school and my two were already kvetching about recess - hope their P.E. teachers get with the program and sign up for Caps Hockey School.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Back to School with the Caps
Tomorrow all D.C. area kids are finally are back in school after a very long and very hot summer. But the youngsters won’t be the only ones filing through the hall of the many schools throughout the District, Maryland and Virginia. And for thousands of lucky students, Physical Education may just be a little more fun this year. The Washington Capitals kick off their fourth year of Caps at School on Tuesday, September 7, as forwards David Steckel and Tomas Fleischmann will join Slapshot at Avalon Elementary School in Temple Hills, Md.
Flash and Steckel will participate in a question-and-answer session with the students and lead a skills demonstration, showing the students their sick stick skills. They’ll guide the students through several drills focusing on stick handling, passing and shooting. Some of the students will get a chance to show off what they’ve learned as the players will call on eager volunteers in the audience to demonstrate. The clinic will conclude with several students participating in a brief scrimmage along with Fleischmann on one team and Steckel on the other. Following the clinic a set of street hockey equipment will be donated by the Capitals to the school.
Caps at School, presented by Capital One Bank, is free program that teaches D.C. area kids some of the finer points of this great game we all know and love and hopefully incites a love of the game that will have them rocking the red for years to come. Last season, the team conducted more than 30 clinics and instructed more than 5,000 area students in the ABC’s of ice hockey. At the end of each Caps at School session during the 2009-10 season, students received autographed players’ cards as “diplomas” signifying that they’d mastered the skills and knowledge required to “graduate” from Hockey School.
This season Capitals coaches, players, alumni, and of course everybody’s favorite teacher Slapshot, will conduct Hockey School from September to May for groups of fifth to eighth graders. Instead of those boring old gold stars, Caps at School participants will leave this special learning experience with an autographed player card signed by a Caps player, a hockey 101 booklet that outlines the rules of street hockey and ice hockey, a Hockey School squishy puck. They’ll also have a chance to show off what they’ve learned on real ice as participants will also get a coupon for a free open skate session at a local participating rink and a coupon for a free learn to skate or learn to play introductory class at a local rink. Caps at School may just develop some future stars who may not otherwise be exposed to the game. Safe to say, the program is sure to inspire a whole new generation of hockey fans. All of you Caps fans who teach fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth grades can sign up for a chance to have 100-150 of your pupils attend Caps Hockey School.
Recess may never be the same after Caps at School!
Flash and Steckel will participate in a question-and-answer session with the students and lead a skills demonstration, showing the students their sick stick skills. They’ll guide the students through several drills focusing on stick handling, passing and shooting. Some of the students will get a chance to show off what they’ve learned as the players will call on eager volunteers in the audience to demonstrate. The clinic will conclude with several students participating in a brief scrimmage along with Fleischmann on one team and Steckel on the other. Following the clinic a set of street hockey equipment will be donated by the Capitals to the school.
Caps at School, presented by Capital One Bank, is free program that teaches D.C. area kids some of the finer points of this great game we all know and love and hopefully incites a love of the game that will have them rocking the red for years to come. Last season, the team conducted more than 30 clinics and instructed more than 5,000 area students in the ABC’s of ice hockey. At the end of each Caps at School session during the 2009-10 season, students received autographed players’ cards as “diplomas” signifying that they’d mastered the skills and knowledge required to “graduate” from Hockey School.
This season Capitals coaches, players, alumni, and of course everybody’s favorite teacher Slapshot, will conduct Hockey School from September to May for groups of fifth to eighth graders. Instead of those boring old gold stars, Caps at School participants will leave this special learning experience with an autographed player card signed by a Caps player, a hockey 101 booklet that outlines the rules of street hockey and ice hockey, a Hockey School squishy puck. They’ll also have a chance to show off what they’ve learned on real ice as participants will also get a coupon for a free open skate session at a local participating rink and a coupon for a free learn to skate or learn to play introductory class at a local rink. Caps at School may just develop some future stars who may not otherwise be exposed to the game. Safe to say, the program is sure to inspire a whole new generation of hockey fans. All of you Caps fans who teach fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth grades can sign up for a chance to have 100-150 of your pupils attend Caps Hockey School.
Recess may never be the same after Caps at School!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Personnel Changes on the Caps Beat at Comcast SportsNet
There will be a different friendly face covering the Caps beat for Comcast SportsNet this season. The network just announced that former Caps reporter and puck guru Lisa Hillary has departed the network to cover the rival Philadelphia Flyers. Jill Sorensen, a veteran sports anchor who hails from the hockey mecca of Minnesota (Minn-a-sOta), will be stepping into the vacant role.
From the CSN press release:
Sorenson, a longtime Washington-area sports journalist, returns to the role of Capitals television beat reporter after serving as an anchor and reporter for Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic for five years. Sorenson, who led the network’s coverage of the Capitals from 2005 to 2007, spent four years as the Capitals beat reporter for WRC-TV (NBC) from 2000 to 2004, where she served as a sports anchor and reporter. A graduate of Brown University, Sorenson also spent time as a news reporter for WTTG-TV (FOX) in Washington, D.C. and as a as a sports anchor and reporter for WDIO-TV (ABC) in Duluth, Minn.
After serving as the Capitals television beat reporter for Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic for three seasons, Hillary joins Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia to lead their television news coverage of the Flyers. A veteran hockey reporter, she joined the network in July 2007 following a lengthy career as a reporter and anchor with several major television outlets in Canada, where she spent time covering the NHL for two national sports networks, The Sports Network (TSN) and The Score. A graduate of Algonquin College, she also spent time as a news anchor for Ottawa’s A-Channel.
Congrats to Jill and we look forward to seeing her from Kettler in about minus 18 days! And best of luck to Lisa, hope those testy Flyers fans treat you right...
From the CSN press release:
Sorenson, a longtime Washington-area sports journalist, returns to the role of Capitals television beat reporter after serving as an anchor and reporter for Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic for five years. Sorenson, who led the network’s coverage of the Capitals from 2005 to 2007, spent four years as the Capitals beat reporter for WRC-TV (NBC) from 2000 to 2004, where she served as a sports anchor and reporter. A graduate of Brown University, Sorenson also spent time as a news reporter for WTTG-TV (FOX) in Washington, D.C. and as a as a sports anchor and reporter for WDIO-TV (ABC) in Duluth, Minn.
After serving as the Capitals television beat reporter for Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic for three seasons, Hillary joins Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia to lead their television news coverage of the Flyers. A veteran hockey reporter, she joined the network in July 2007 following a lengthy career as a reporter and anchor with several major television outlets in Canada, where she spent time covering the NHL for two national sports networks, The Sports Network (TSN) and The Score. A graduate of Algonquin College, she also spent time as a news anchor for Ottawa’s A-Channel.
Congrats to Jill and we look forward to seeing her from Kettler in about minus 18 days! And best of luck to Lisa, hope those testy Flyers fans treat you right...
Thursday, August 26, 2010
NHL National TV Schedules Released; Willie Mitchell Goes to Hollywood
For your puck planning purposes, VERSUS and NBC released their NHL broadcast schedules yesterday. VERSUS will broadcast 11 Capitals games to a national television audience in 2010-11 while NBC, which will operate under a flexible schedule for nine of the network’s regular-season dates, will carry the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 1 and has the option to pick up three other Washington games.
In addition to the broadcast schedule the Capitals announced 10 time changes from the original schedule:
Oct. 19 vs. Boston (7:30 p.m.)
Nov. 9 at New York Rangers (7:30 p.m.)
Dec. 19 at Ottawa (7:30 p.m.)
Dec. 21 vs. New Jersey (7:30 p.m.)
Jan. 24 vs. New York Rangers (7:30 p.m.)
Feb. 1 vs. Montreal (7:30 p.m.)
Feb. 21 at Pittsburgh (7:30 p.m.)
March 15 at Montreal (7 p.m.)
March 16 at Detroit (7:30 p.m.)
March 22 at Philadelphia (7:30 p.m.).
VERSUS, which will broadcast 78 regular-season NHL games, will feature the Capitals 11 times this season, tied for the most appearances of any team. The network will also broadcast the following games:
Oct. 13 vs. New York Islanders
Oct. 19 vs. Boston
Nov. 9 at New York Rangers
Dec. 21 vs. New Jersey
Jan. 24 vs. New York Rangers
Feb. 14 at Phoenix
Feb. 21 at Pittsburgh
March 7 at Tampa Bay
March 16 at Detroit
March 22 at Philadelphia
March 31 vs. Columbus.
In other news, the Willie Mitchell saga has come to an end. The gritty veteran defenseman signed with the L.A. Kings yesterday, joining a young defense corps where youngsters Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson play starring roles. Sources say LA was the only club offering Mitchell a two-year deal; Peerless has an interesting take on how a potential Mitchell signing would have affected the Cap's salary cap. Ah Willie, you would've looked dashing in red, but not for that kind of commitment (especially in light of that concussion history). Maybe your Canucks pal Kevin Bieksa may still be in play - time will tell.
Some other miscellaneous odds and ends as we mark off the long summer days:
In addition to the broadcast schedule the Capitals announced 10 time changes from the original schedule:
Oct. 19 vs. Boston (7:30 p.m.)
Nov. 9 at New York Rangers (7:30 p.m.)
Dec. 19 at Ottawa (7:30 p.m.)
Dec. 21 vs. New Jersey (7:30 p.m.)
Jan. 24 vs. New York Rangers (7:30 p.m.)
Feb. 1 vs. Montreal (7:30 p.m.)
Feb. 21 at Pittsburgh (7:30 p.m.)
March 15 at Montreal (7 p.m.)
March 16 at Detroit (7:30 p.m.)
March 22 at Philadelphia (7:30 p.m.).
VERSUS, which will broadcast 78 regular-season NHL games, will feature the Capitals 11 times this season, tied for the most appearances of any team. The network will also broadcast the following games:
Oct. 13 vs. New York Islanders
Oct. 19 vs. Boston
Nov. 9 at New York Rangers
Dec. 21 vs. New Jersey
Jan. 24 vs. New York Rangers
Feb. 14 at Phoenix
Feb. 21 at Pittsburgh
March 7 at Tampa Bay
March 16 at Detroit
March 22 at Philadelphia
March 31 vs. Columbus.
In other news, the Willie Mitchell saga has come to an end. The gritty veteran defenseman signed with the L.A. Kings yesterday, joining a young defense corps where youngsters Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson play starring roles. Sources say LA was the only club offering Mitchell a two-year deal; Peerless has an interesting take on how a potential Mitchell signing would have affected the Cap's salary cap. Ah Willie, you would've looked dashing in red, but not for that kind of commitment (especially in light of that concussion history). Maybe your Canucks pal Kevin Bieksa may still be in play - time will tell.
Some other miscellaneous odds and ends as we mark off the long summer days:
- Please wish ComcastSportsNet's former Capitals reporter (and great gal) Lisa Hillary luck as she moves on to cover the arch-rival Flyers. OFB says it all here.
- Wanna make sure you get all your hockey news on the go? Check out Storming the Creases' handy guide to mobile apps for puckheads!
- Semyon Varlamov issues a personal invitation for you to join him at the Caps Convention and Varly has officially joined the blogosphere. (Russian Machine Never Breaks).
- Finally, two notable hockey dads weigh in on body checking in youth hockey - a discussion that took place at this week's Hockey Summit in Toronto.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Tuesday Tidbits: Get Your Single Game Tickets!
The Washington Capitals have literally become such a hot ticket that the team is adding standing room only tickets this year after selling out 60 consecutive Capitals games (including playoffs ). The Caps announced yesterday that single-game tickets will go on sale Friday, Sept. 10 and may be purchased at 202-397-SEAT, on WashingtonCaps.com, at Kettler Capitals Iceplex and at all local Ticketmaster outlets, including the Verizon Center box office. Once the single-game tickets have sold (they'll be selling as fast as fresh-out-of-the-oven red velvets from Georgetown Cupcake), the team will make a limited number of Standing Room Only tickets available.
The Caps will open their home season against against the New Jersey Devils (who could be with or without Ilya Kovalchuk - the drama continues). The team will unveil their 2009-10 Presidents’ Trophy and Southeast Division championship banners prior to the game, and fans will receive a magnet schedule presented by GEICO.
And as we drag through another slow day of counting the days until Training Camp, here are a few miscellaneous tidbits for your reading pleasure:
The Caps will open their home season against against the New Jersey Devils (who could be with or without Ilya Kovalchuk - the drama continues). The team will unveil their 2009-10 Presidents’ Trophy and Southeast Division championship banners prior to the game, and fans will receive a magnet schedule presented by GEICO.
And as we drag through another slow day of counting the days until Training Camp, here are a few miscellaneous tidbits for your reading pleasure:
- And the Willie wait continues. Will Canuck's defenseman Willie Mitchell be rocking the red this season? One Hockey Mom would love to see it...
- Speaking of the Canucks, as the mom of twins you know of my fascination with thos Sedin boys. Here's an interesting viewpoint on whether Vancouver could give one Sedin the captaincy and not the other should the need arise. (stick tap to Canucks Hockey Blog). My twins were doing anything but channeling the Sedins during practice last night. Coach had them on the same line and several times when one made a drop pass to the other, the intended recipient overskated it as he was skating alongside the brother instead of behind him. Need to work on that one boys...
- The boss weighs in on Alex Ovechkin (interesting insight from AO on youth hockey in Russia) and the Cap's goalie situation.
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