John Erskine, Quintin Laing and Assistant Coach Bob Woods Host Capitals Hockey School at Union Mill Elementary School
Friday, 03.05.2010 / 5:12 PM
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ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals defenseman John Erskine, left wing Quintin Laing, assistant coach Bob Woods and Slapshot visited Union Mill Elementary School in Clifton, Va., Friday, March 5, to host the Capitals Hockey School presented by Chevy Chase Bank. The trio began the session fielding questions from students in the elementary school’s gym before directing a floor hockey clinic with the 108 excited fifth-grade students.
Led by Woods, Erskine and Laing 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 the Capitals donating a set of floor hockey equipment to the school.
“Lainger (Laing) and I had a lot of fun teaching the kids different hockey skills,” Erskine said. “It was fun playing with the kids – teaching them how to hold a stick and showing them different types of shots,” Laing said. All students who participated in the session received autographed player cards from Erskine and Laing along with Caps Hockey 101 booklets and squishy pucks.
Also in attendance was Alejandra Mueller, the general manager at SkateQuest. SkateQuest is a platinum rink partner of the Washington Capitals and is located in Reston, Va.
This was the 11th 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.
Led by Woods, Erskine and Laing 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 the Capitals donating a set of floor hockey equipment to the school.
“Lainger (Laing) and I had a lot of fun teaching the kids different hockey skills,” Erskine said. “It was fun playing with the kids – teaching them how to hold a stick and showing them different types of shots,” Laing said. All students who participated in the session received autographed player cards from Erskine and Laing along with Caps Hockey 101 booklets and squishy pucks.
Also in attendance was Alejandra Mueller, the general manager at SkateQuest. SkateQuest is a platinum rink partner of the Washington Capitals and is located in Reston, Va.
This was the 11th 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.
