Washington Capitals Host Dreams for Kids for Extreme Recess Hockey

ARLINGTON, Va. – For the third-consecutive year the Washington Capitals teamed up with children’s charity Dreams for Kids (DFK) to host an Extreme Recess Hockey clinic at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on Friday, Feb. 8.

Capitals forward Jason Chimera, goaltender Braden Holtby, defenseman Tomas Kundratek and mascot Slapshot skated and played hockey with 100 children with physical and developmental disabilities. Prior to the free session, participants watched the Capitals practice.

VIEW PHOTO GALLERY

WATCH VIDEO

The free clinic gave many of the children the opportunity to skate and play hockey for the first time. Chimera, Holtby and Kundratek spent the clinic offering children instruction on how to skate. They also helped push the sleds of children trying out sled hockey.

“Being able to skate with the children and teach them about hockey today was amazing,” said Kundratek. “I hope they enjoyed the experience and will continue to play the spot.”

Dreams for Kids is an international youth organization and 501(c) (3) children’s charity whose mission is to empower young people of all abilities through dynamic leadership programs and life-changing activities.

Their Extreme Recess clinics pair each child with a volunteer so every child is engaged effectively.

The event was held in conjunction with the Capitals celebration of Hockey is for Everyone™ Month, a league wide initiative that offers children of all backgrounds opportunities to play hockey and leverages the sport of hockey as a catalyst to teach essential life skills and the core values of hockey: commitment, perseverance and teamwork.