ARLINGTON, VA — The Washington Capitals had some special guests at the rink on Sunday for their annual Hockey Fights Cancer skate. After wrapping up practice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, the team met young cancer patients and survivors, as well as their families, from Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, Blood Cancer United Mid-Atlantic, MedStar Health, and Sunrise Day Camp Greater Washington.
Each player was paired with a child, greeting them in the Capitals locker room before helping them gear up. Tom Wilson found he had plenty in common with Sophia as he helped her lace up her skates, with the the two bonding over getting sent to time out.
“She’s got the sweet side, and then she’s got the tenacious side,” Wilson said of Sophia later. “We were on the same page from the start. She was talking about time out, and ripping the door handle off, and all that. So I said, ‘I’ve been there.’”
Alex Ovechkin, meanwhile, reunited with Sunny, who he met at the Caps’ Rock the Red Carpet event last month. This time, Sunny arrived in sparkly cowboy boos, catching the eye of both Ovechkin and John Carlson.
“Oh my God,” Ovechkin said of the boots. “Wow!”
“Hey Sunny, why are you wearing my shoes?” John Carlson piped up later in the afternoon. “I was looking for those!”
Once everyone had their skates on, players, kids, and family members hit the ice. Some learned to skate for the first time, getting lessons from an NHL player on how to balance. Others had already learned, skating unassisted or with support. And several sat down on a chair instead, grinning as players pushed them down the ice at speed.
Not even the presence of visitors, however, could deter the prank-happy Capitals from a little mischief. Brandon Duhaime enlisted some help from his skating partner for the day to sneak a “Kick me” sign onto the back of Wilson’s jersey.
Wilson and Sophia, however, got him back, nabbing a water bottle and pouring it over an unsuspecting Duhaime’s head.
The second round of revenge was served cold, with kids pelting Duhaime with snowballs.
“He didn’t know I had Sophia on my side,” Wilson said of Duhaime. “She’s a fighter. So we got him back a few times.”
The event concluded with a group photo and one last chance for some shenanigans.
Instructed to say cheese for the group photo, one of the Capitals (I think it was John Carlson or Trevor van Riemsdyk) instead yelled “6-7!” pic.twitter.com/fpcej6I3TG
— Katie Adler (@katieEadler) November 16, 2025
Amid a busy NHL schedule, Sunday’s skate was circled on many a player’s calendar, a chance to both give back to the community and have an afternoon of fun. As thrilled as kids and their families were to see the Capitals, the players were just as excited to meet them.
“It’s a very important day for us, for the kids,” Ovechkin said. “You can see how they smile, they enjoy, and it’s fun…They are fighters. They are true warriors.”
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