Alex Ovechkin and Jason Chimera Host Capitals Hockey School at Saint James School
Wednesday, 09.14.2011 / 10:00 AM
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Washington Capitals
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ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, left wing Jason Chimera and mascot Slapshot visited Saint James School in Falls Church, Va., on Monday, Sept. 12 to host the Capitals Hockey School. The players began the session fielding questions from students in the school’s gymnasium before directing a floor hockey clinic with 220 fifth- through eighth-grade students.
Ovechkin and Chimera instructed the students on basic hockey skills such as puck-handling, passing and shooting. The students were then called on to try out the skills in front of their peers. Two students volunteered to be dressed as goaltenders, learning how to put on the equipment and how to handle the goalie stick.
Following the competition, the students played alongside the pair of players and Slapshot in a friendly scrimmage. Chimera played with the boys and came out on top, beating Ovechkin and the girls 1-0. The hour-long program concluded with the Capitals donating a set of hockey equipment to the elementary school.
“It’s always fun to visit these schools, play with the kids and introduce them to our sport,” said Ovechkin.
All students who participated in the session received autographed player cards from Ovechkin and Chimera, Caps squishy pucks and Hockey 101 booklets. The school also received an official Capitals Hockey School banner to display in their school year-round.
This was the second Capitals Hockey School visit this season. The Capitals host two Hockey School visits each month between September and May and donate street hockey equipment to each participating school.
This is the fifth-consecutive year the Capitals have conducted their Hockey School program. The Caps have hosted more than 50 clinics and reached more than 7,500 students in the past four years. Hockey School is a free program, designed to be both instructional and interactive, with the goal of exposing students to floor hockey while teaching proper technique.
Ovechkin and Chimera instructed the students on basic hockey skills such as puck-handling, passing and shooting. The students were then called on to try out the skills in front of their peers. Two students volunteered to be dressed as goaltenders, learning how to put on the equipment and how to handle the goalie stick.
Following the competition, the students played alongside the pair of players and Slapshot in a friendly scrimmage. Chimera played with the boys and came out on top, beating Ovechkin and the girls 1-0. The hour-long program concluded with the Capitals donating a set of hockey equipment to the elementary school.
“It’s always fun to visit these schools, play with the kids and introduce them to our sport,” said Ovechkin.
All students who participated in the session received autographed player cards from Ovechkin and Chimera, Caps squishy pucks and Hockey 101 booklets. The school also received an official Capitals Hockey School banner to display in their school year-round.
This was the second Capitals Hockey School visit this season. The Capitals host two Hockey School visits each month between September and May and donate street hockey equipment to each participating school.
This is the fifth-consecutive year the Capitals have conducted their Hockey School program. The Caps have hosted more than 50 clinics and reached more than 7,500 students in the past four years. Hockey School is a free program, designed to be both instructional and interactive, with the goal of exposing students to floor hockey while teaching proper technique.
