Capitals Host Beijing Hockey Association Players

ARLINGTON, Va. -In conjunction with ORG Packaging, the Washington Capitals hosted 25 youth Beijing Hockey Association players in Washington, D.C., from Jan. 23 through Feb.3.

Players ages six through 12 participated in practices at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. On Jan. 23 they attended a Capitals morning skate, joining head coach Barry Trotz and the team on the ice. They also received instruction from Capitals alumni including Peter Bondra, Alan May and Paul Mulvey during daily clinics. Throughout the week they scrimmaged against several local youth hockey teams, concluding with a USA vs. China game at Verizon Center on Feb 1.

Off the ice, the players attended several events at Verizon Center, including the Capitals' matchups against the Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins, Monster Jam and the Wizards' game against New York Knicks. They also had a special Chinese New Year celebration dinner in Chinatown.

The Beijing Primary School players, as well as local youth hockey players from the Fort Dupont Ice Arena, American Special Hockey Association and Kettler Capitals Iceplex programs, participated in the press event announcing the team's Hockey is For Everyone Month initiatives prior to the game against the Bruins on Feb. 1. Speakers included Ted Leonsis, founder, chairman, majority owner and chief executive officer of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Raul Fernandez, owner and vice chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Bin Li, Counselor of Economic Section at the Chinese Embassy and Zhou Yunjie, ORG Packaging chairman.

Feb. 1 also marked the Capitals Chinese Cultural Night presented by ORG. Yunjie and two Beijing Primary School players participated in a ceremonial puck drop with Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. The game was broadcast on CCTV in China and featured New Years greetings by Capitals players in honor of the Chinese New Year.

ORG Packaging is a metal packaging product manufacturer based in Beijing, China, and serves at the Official Chinese Outreach Partner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment and is a sponsor of the Capitals, Wizards, Mystics and Verizon Center.

Hockey is For Everyone Month is the National Hockey League's official youth development program. The program 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. Head to
WashCaps.com/HIFE
for more information.