Boyd Gordon and Slapshot Host Capitals Hockey School at Bristow Run Elementary School

John Erskine and Boyd Gordan Visit Bristow Run Elementary

ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals center Boyd Gordon and Slapshot visited Bristow Run Elementary School in Bristow, Va., Thursday, Jan. 14, to host the Capitals Hockey School presented by Chevy Chase Bank. Gordon began the session fielding questions from students in the elementary school’s gym before directing a floor hockey clinic with the 188 excited fifth-grade students.
 
Led by Peter Robinson, the Capitals amateur hockey and fan development coordinator, Gordon and Slapshot instructed the students about puck-handling, passing and shooting, before hosting a skills competition. Following the competition, the students scrimmaged with the pair. The hour-long program concluded with the Capitals donating a set of floor hockey equipment to the school.
 
“The kids were really loud and excited to try the new skills,” Gordon said. “The scrimmage at the end got pretty competitive and you can see all of the kids having fun during the game.” All students who participated in the session received autographed player cards and Caps Hockey 101 booklets from Gordon.
 
Also attending will be RJ Zeigler, the hockey director, at Prince William Ice Center. Prince William Ice Center is a platinum rink partner of the Washington Capitals and is located in Woodbridge, Va.
 
This was the ninth 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.
 
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.