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Great timing for this thread as I’ve been reading ‘the rink’ for well over a year or so and just this week decided to start an account. As they say on talk radio, “long-time listener, first time caller.”

My name is B and I live in Reston, work in DC. I was born and raised in Tysons Corner and fell in love with the Caps at least 15 years ago. My next door neighbor, when I was a kid, had played goalie at Boston College and thus owned Caps season tickets. I would mow his lawn, do chores, etc and in exchange he would take me to games. Dont remember the first game I went to but oddly enough I certainly remember the first fight I saw by Craig Berube and the 100-mph slap shot by Al Iafrate… I am excited not only about this team but to the future as well. A big hat tip to Leonsis and GMGM for that – a great tandum.

this is daunting. but i’m worried i’ve been too abrasive recently, and i really just want to be friends with everyone here. i’m kyle. i’m 28. my dad was in the air force, so i didn’t really have a hometown or hometown sports teams growing up. i’ve lived in florida, alabama, japan, herndonVA, newport newsVA, germany, new york city, mcleanVA and hawaii. i went to barack obama’s high school and george(s) bush’s college. i’m recently retired from a club ultimate frisbee team, and most of my free time these days is spent digesting college football, hockey or english soccer news. i pretend i’m a southerner because my mom is from georgia and my dad is from florida, but DC will forever be my real home.

i’ve always cheered for the skins and hoyas, but didn’t consider myself a caps fan until the summer after college when i returned to DC proper (ft. mcnair). i committed myself full-time to learning about the caps the day they drafted alex ovechkin, and i credit JP and this blog with getting me up to speed and continuing to teach me new things about hockey. i’m also friends with debcapsfan. we used to be coworkers, and she was the first to invite me out to a game at MCI/verizon.

i live in chicago now, but will be returning to baltimoreMD (upper fells point) in just under a month to resume public health grad school. i’ve noticed quite a few charm city regulars, and it would be awesome to have a get-together next season.

My name is Emily and I would like to know why “The Scarlet Caps” site allegedly for us wimminz is so LAME. The last official update to it was March 25. There are a couple of blog entries that were posted in June. I’d gladly offer to provide some content for the site if I knew who to ask.

And I just got a pair of tix to the convention.

My name is Michael. Grew up in Va Beach, did some time in NoVa and now live outside of Richmond. My earliest Caps memory is watching a game on Home Team Sports with my brother in the early 80’s, I was probably about 8. Some short dude (guess who?) scored for the Caps and my brother and I spent the rest of the evening trying to figure out what the hell a hat trick was. I followed the Caps from afar but was mostly a casual hockey fan until the ’94 Finals when I was hooked for good. Really started following the Caps when I moved to NoVa in ’96.

Long time reader, very rare commenter.

I’m Andy, I live in Northern Virginia. I’m pretty new to Japers Rink, but have been an occasional commenter on the Caps message boards (different username).
I went to my first game when I was 4 with my dad, got on the jumbo-tron, and lost the T-shirt he bought me within 2 days. Between then and 1998 I was a casual fan and went to a couple games in Landover. I went to the final game of the 1998 regular season and started following the Caps on their playoff run, and developed into a huge hockey nerd after that. I didn’t have cable television for another 5 years, so I could only watch a few of the games, but I went to 5-6 games a year for a while. I’m very familiar with Steve Kolbe after listening to hundreds of radio broadcasts, including 6 years away at school out of the TV market, and I got to watch them play the Blue Jackets and Penguins on TV because I was in that area. I have cable now, thank goodness, and I spent the last two years as a season ticket holder before giving up my tickets this spring.
The people in my section thought I was an encyclopedia of hockey knowledge. I don’t know about that, I just read hockey encyclopedias, played pickup hockey, and trained as a hockey ref, though I never reffed any games. I like to think I’m pretty educated about hockey and can bring something to discussions like this, even if I am verbose.
I spent yesterday down at the development camp and had a chat with Joe Beninati. I think the Caps are headed in the right direction and they’ll be good for a long time. I’m looking forward to next season.

Name is Ari. Grew up in Wheaton. Lifetime Caps fan since I lived in Toronto for a year with my family in 78-79 and learned to read on the backs of hockey cards.

Lived abroad for most of time between Jan 96 and Sept 05. Was one of two members of Bishkek Washington Capitals Fan Club (and have the picture to prove it!) Came back to DC in 05, and was at Ovechkin’s first game, along with my wife who has now become just as big a fan as me.

- First game was in February ‘81 at Cap Centre – Caps beat Edmonton 7-4. Was anyone else at that game?
- Favorite player growing up was Bengt Gustafson.
- I can’t stand Steve Kolbe and Ken Sabourin. Since I spent many a 1980s night glued to Ron Weber’s voice on the radio, I long for the day when he resumes his rightful place on the throne.
- Season ticket holder for the first time last year, after nearly 30 years as a fan. Section 413, M.

This blog rocks, by the way.

Im Alon, and I live in Potomac. My Dad somehow got tickets to one of the SCF games against Detroit, and naturally brought me along. Of course, being a 6 year old, I spent most of the time playing mini hockey with a couple other kids and only watched a little bit of the game. But the next season we got ST’s and I really got hooked. Im Jewish, so I always miss the Friday night and Saturday games, but that didnt stop me from getting down to basically every other game during the season. After the lockout, my parents decided that the tickets werent worth it, and didnt give me a say in the matter when they gave up our seats. I continued to diligently follow the team, and always bugged my parents about re uppping our season tix. Finally, they surprised me with the tix for next year and for the Playoffs this past season.
I used to be one of the only hockey fans at my school, but since the Caps got hot it seems like everybody has always been a hockey fan and they were just too busy to care befire now. But I welcome in the newbies and try and bring more fans onto the Caps “bandwagon.” Ever since 9th grade Ive tried to get a job or internship with the Caps, but only recently found out that they only accept college students and above. So I will resume my efforts next year. Ive been dying to get down to D-Camp, but work has prevented me from that. I bought my Caps Con tickets yesterday, and have my countdown until the season starts ready to go for when we get the official opening night.

I should probably say something since Kyle mentioned me. I taught him a lot of what he knows. ;)
My name is Deb and my dad took me to my first game when I was five. I’ve seen a lot of the Caps milestones over the years…I was there when Ovie was drafted, and I went to Anaheim for Ovie’s first hat trick, and last season I saw Green break the record for consecutive goals in Tampa. If you’ve ever been on a trip with the CapsRoadCrew, you’ve probably met me.

I’m Travis, and have been posting here for a while (no first time post, here). I still miss .blogspot, cause there’s so much going on here, but I will now admit that it was a good mood.

I admit to being abrasive to the point of pissing some of you off, and for that, I apologize. I’m very adamant when I think somethings at times and will take it out on people(Read, many of you). For that I apologize. I’ll disagree with you all day in a blog post, but I’d stand up and shake your hand if I met you at a game/anywhere outside of here and be totally civil.

I am currently in the process of converting to Judaism, but that’s neither here nor there (I’ve only been on that process for 5 years now).

My first memory of hockey is moving up to NOVA from NC after spending my early years in Germany. I saw the goalie pads in a store and said “I want to play.” My mom signed me up for a league, and away I went. I started off a forward, moved to defense, and then swapped between Left Wing, Left Defense, Goalie, and the occasional Center for 11 years. I broke my angle, negating a scholarship to play D1 hockey in goal, but that’s the past.

My first experience with NHL hockey was going to a Red Wings – Capitals game with my first hockey coach. We lost 7-5. I was hooked. The group I went with was all Red Wings fans (Our team was even the Red Wings) but I didn’t like their colors and logo, and everyone else was mad at them, so I went Caps fan. I then later remember watching the Finals with Vancouver and the Rangers, and then the next year got NHL 95 for my birthday, and I have been hooked on hockey, specifically Caps hockey, ever since.

I also write (very rarely, now) for Bleacher Report, where for a while I was the main Caps guy, before school knocked me out of it (Now that I’m out, I may continue to write).

I also tend to get long winded.

Oboy. Now that I’ve got the Club Scarlet thing out of my system, let me take a deep breath and say, “Hi, happy to meet you all.”

Long time DC resident, went to my first Caps game with my Dad out at the Potato Chip when my sister declined his invite: “No, I don’t really like basketball.”

The game was faster, louder, and far more painful than it ever looked on teevee. Also about a thousand times cooler. I’ve never had season tix, but I’ve made it to three or four games a year. This year I even went to Hershey to see Game 3 against the Manitoba Moose.

Very much looking forward to the upcoming season. Go Caps!

PS I’m up for another Hershey road trip sometime this year as well…

Call me Niki, relatively new Caps fan and STH, but a Detroit native and long-time NHL fan, thanks to Steve Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov (and my mother’s partial season tickets at Joe Louis Arena). I’ve lived in the DC area for ten years and am thrilled to have reignited my rabid hockey mania.

I’m Sarah, and I hail from the southern part of Maryland that no one cares about. Non hockey related fact, but I used to be able to walk to Tom Clancy’s house from where I lived.

I never liked hockey growing up but have always been a huge sports fan. Freshman year, my school actually got a hockey team, and a kid in my class was on the team, so we talked about it even though I knew nothing. He was talking about being moved from first line to second, and I had no idea what he meant. When I first watched it, I was a little confused by the players going off the ice so soon because all the sports I’ve played have you out there for nearly the entire game. I went to a couple of the high school games, but I never watched any Caps games until this past season. Naturally, I followed the Caps because they’re the team for the DMV area. I was hooked, and I decided to actually learn stuff about hockey instead of being clueless as to what was going on. The first game I went to was actually Game 2 of Round 1 against the Rangers. Aunt and uncle are STHs and took me with them. I’ve actually gotten my parents and brother to pay a little attention to the Caps, too. My mom and dad took me to Hershey for Game 4 of the Finals on my birthday, which was my first Bears game. They tried to get Caps season tickets, but we ended up being part of the very long waiting list.The Caps have gotten so big that kids at my school were actually wearing jerseys after wins, which was just something for Skins/Ravens and considering freshman year I only saw one kid who plays wearing his Kozlig sweater. Now there’s a plenty of red through the halls during hockey season.

Ryan, fan since “the trade” in ‘82, first live game was the Easter marathon, haven’t looked back. Chicks dig me because I rarely wear underwear and when I do, it’s usually something exotic.

Hi, my name is Seth and I am 30. I’m from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, you know that part that isn’t connected to Virginia and most people think is Maryland. I’ve always had an interest in hockey, but living there it was completely foreign. The only coverage we ever got was recaps of Admirals games. I moved to NoVa in the mid 90’s for college and started fallowing the Caps, but then got married, had 3 boys, and lost all of my free time. Since the boys are older now, I have been able to indulge myself and have been a rabid fan for a few years now but only got to go to my first game this past winter against the ’Canes. Oh yeah, everything I know about hockey I learned from The Rink.

Hi Folks. My name is Mike, I’m from Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Been a Caps fan since Mike Palmateer put on the red & white. As a kid, only saw Leafs or Habs on tv. Saw my first game in the old Montreal Forum vs the Caps in ‘92. Used to go to Montreal every December to see the Caps play. I’m a lurker, not much of a poster….but love the excellent views and ALL opinons offered here….Thanks JP and gang.

My name is Jason and the Rink is my lifeline up here in NYC. I’ve been a huge Caps fan since my family moved to the DC area in 1995. I was there in 98 when Detroit won the cup in DC and as great as that run was, the team is way better now and my fandom is at an all-time high.

Thanks to the staff and commentariat here for making this the best source for news and everything Caps.

I’m Jen, raised in Maryland but now living in NoVa. I’ve been a Caps fan since 1983 (I think) — the baseball team was too far to get to on a weeknight, and it was impossible to get football tickets, but it was affordable to bring the family to a hockey game. (Basketball does not enter into this conversation. None of my family are the least bit interested in basketball.) I fell in love with the game and became a devoted fan of the team

We were 10-game plan holders until I left for college. After a few years living in the Northeast, I returned to the DC area…and then things started getting good. (I give all the credit to the change back to red and white sweaters, honestly.)

I’m Sean, born and raised in Springfield as a Caps fan for my whole life…well not my WHOLE life-I started out a Mighty Ducks fan as a 5 year old who loved terrible Emilio Estevez movies…thank goodness that ended quickly! Anyways, I’m 20 and a current student at Virginia Tech (any other current Hokies out there feel free to get in contact with me, I’d love some company watching games). I’m a rabid sports fan, but hockey has always been my love, probably because I spent roughly 2/3 of my childhood playing street hockey.

I blog at http://dcsportsplus.blogspot.com, feel free to check it out (mostly about the Nats though).

Don’t comment here often but I ready everyday. Name is Jeff and i was born and raised in Springfield. After the trade for Huet last year when we made the run to the playoffs was when I started following the caps seriously and when I found the rink in January I have read every day since and become a HUGE Caps fan. Anyone who watches Caps games at JMU let me know would love to watch with more fans.

Wow – kinda intimidating to be posting with so many long-time fans, given that I’m a newbie. But here goes…

I’m Kelly, 23, moved to NoVa in February. As an Army brat, I never lived in a city more than 2 years or so, and although we lived all over, I was never in a town where there was a professional hockey team, or where hockey was a big sport in school. I did go to school at Villanova, just outside Philadelphia, but thankfully I was in the college bubble and didn’t find hockey while I was there, because no one wants to be a Flyers fan! My dad (and I) used to play soccer, so we mostly had soccer and some football on TV; sometimes he would turn on a SCF game, but I could never follow the puck.

When I moved here in February, I had a good friend who is a huge fan who wanted me to watch a Caps game with her. I mostly did it to humor her, and to get to spend some time with her. February 14 I saw my first Caps game on TV – we won against TB 5-1 – and by the end of it, I was rabid. Ovi had a hat trick, which didn’t hurt, but the fluidity and speed of the game really got to me.

That first week I spent scouring the internet for anything to read about the Caps, and of course found this wonderful blog, and it soon became my favorite stop for catching up on Caps news and for honest, insightful commentary on how the guys are playing.

The first game I went to was on March 27. That took things to a whole other level for me – all of a sudden, the hits were so real and the sound of the skates and the puck hitting the boards was magic.

Since that game on Feb. 14 I haven’t missed watching a game, whether in person or on TV. I was lucky enough to get to games 2,5, and 7 of the Rangers series, and games 2 & 7 of the Pens series. That last game against the Pens was rough, but I was glad to be part of a fan community that showed its appreciation with that standing ovation at the end of the game.

And I read every day, although I don’t generally comment; I’ve learned an amazing amount about hockey in a short time (mostly thanks to JP, DMG, Pepper and everyone else who posts here), but I don’t think I know enough to have much to add.
 
Thanks for writing such a great blog, guys!

Thanks – I really appreciate that! I’ve loved getting to know people through a mutual love for the Caps – everyone has been so nice, which is a great intro to the city.

BTW, I realized I had the wrong date / score for my first game. I don’t remember that date off the top of my head, so I looked at the schedule and got the wrong day…it was actually the 15th. But now that I’ve written that, I realize it probably doesn’t matter all that much!

Well since all of the cool kids are introducing themselves…

My name is Josh…though I hear Yoshie or Yosh about as much. I grew up in the NoVA and have been going to Caps games for almost as long as I can remember. Growing up my favorite sport was definitely baseball (go Mets) but since the 1998 run the Caps come before everything else. I actually quit/got fired from a job during those playoffs as I refused to miss a homegame. My all time favorite player is probably Bengt Gustafson and my favorite present day players are probably Backstrom and Bradley…even though I feel like I’m always defending Schultz and Flash (although I also have red hair…Red Power!).

For the last few years my brother, a friend and I have had season tickets in section 402 row A and I’ll probably have them for the duration as I consider them amongst the best seats in the house.

If it has to be said again, thanks to the entire Japers team…I found The Rink at the perfect time as I had just sworn off CI for good.

/props to G.O.D because I think it was him who turned me on to the site.

Take tonight for example. I’m drinking some French wine to celebrate Bastille Day and to honor the effort put forth by Sammy Dumoullin today (courageous little bastard). I’m from all the hell over the place. (No, I’m not an Army brat, but I served in the Army myself.) I’m a relatively recent convert to being a Caps fan (2006) and I’ve had season tix for two years (Section 408 – you’ll hear me before you see me). I spent most of my youth in the Northwest, so we didn’t have an NHL team – instead, I followed players like Konowalchuk, Byron Dafoe, Richard Zednik and Brooks Laich before they became Caps. Since I spent high school in Denver, I’m also a big Avalanche fan, but thankfully, since they suck right now, I just have to root for “team” 1 game out of every 82. Presently, I live in the MtP, so lemme give a shout out to all other District Caps fans…

I’ve played hockey (as an untalented goon), and coached (pretty well if I say so myself). During the summer, baseball (the Mariners), DC United (usually standing with the Screaming Eagles) and cycling (on Beach Drive) distract me from constant commenting on the Caps.

Lastly, I’d like to thank J.P. and everyone else on here for this place.

I’m Charles, 25 born/raised and still living around Hagerstown (but making a horrible commute to Howard County) and have attended Caps games since about 1995/96. First one was in the old US Air Center against the Rangers, fearing we wouldn’t even make it as a bad ice storm had passed through the area the day before and roads were pretty bad, and so was the parking lot.

I actually wasn’t a Caps fan at first. Just a hockey fan thanks to our English teacher talking about hockey all the time in sixth grade (unfortunately she was a Devils fan and they had just won the Cup). I adopted the Avs that year since they were new and it worked out well, and didn’t like the Caps at first simply because my middle sister was a Caps fan. Then I came to my senses when I realized it’s much easier to see Caps games than Avs games.

Fortunately in 1997 the city here opened up an ice rink and I’ve been playing goal ever since and even get a chance to get out of the net and play forward and D. (btw we have pick-up on Saturdays 10 p.m. to midnight, Sundays 5:30 to 7/7:30 p.m. and Wednesdays 7:30 p.m. to 9/9:30p.m.)

I’m fortunate I live where I live because I’ve also taken advantage through the years to see Bears games in Hershey, which previously were affiliated with the Avs (and also helped boost that choice way back when).

Though I’ve had an opportunity to watch a lot of great Caps moments, I’ll never forget when the Caps were in the doldrums and Ted needed more attendance and he gave away free pre-season tickets through a Ted’s Army promotion and it felt.That was the coolest thing in the world to me as a kid to see a game for free like that. Now, you can’t find a ticket anywhere.

If you can’t go see a game b/c of the scarcity of tickets, start spending your money on equipment and lessons, pick up a stick and play.

My name is Sam and I am 45. I grew up in Arlington and now live in Burke, VA. Most of my closest friends call me Mou. (Short for half of my last name) That is where the Moufunction comes in. My father in law shared season tickets with another business owner which were two rows from the glass at the blue line over at the Cap Centre in Landover. I was always the kid they looked to when they couldn’t get a client to join them for a game, so I usually ended up getting the tickets approximately 30 minutes before the game started. It was sweet. My three fondest memories as a newbie Caps fan were:
 
1.) Dale Hunter breaking Pittsburgh’s Ulf “Pretty Boy” Samuelson’s jaw in a fight right in front of me. (I hated Samuelson and I still hate Pittsburgh) – By the way are there any more Ulf’s in the N.H.L. these days?
  
2.) Kevin Hatcher on a power play drilling Edmonton’s Kelly Buchberger in the head with a one-timer from the point and watching him go down. I will always remember the fans counting down 10-9-8..etc. and laughing. I thought it was so cruel, especially as Buchberger was slipping while crawling on the ice as blood dripped from his ear. It scared the hell out of me because I really thought he was dead!
 
3.) And Jim Carey winning the Vezna trophy then disappearing in the sunset. (Where is that guy now?)
 
I love hockey. It is the greatest sport in the world. J.P. and the whole gang here on the rink do a great job educating me. I think the Caps are doing a great job and should bring home a cup to D.C. soon. One more cool story. I work as a plumbing engineer for a mechanical firm in Northern Virginia. I worked 4 years with my good friend John before he knew I was a hockey fan. I never knew he liked hockey until one day we were talking Caps hockey and he told me that his uncle was Charlie Lyons, owner of the Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche. He got to go behind the scenes with Roy, Sakic, Forsberg and Pierre Lacroix. The stories are incredible. He told me about the death threats his uncle had recieved if he didn’t sign Sakic to a long term deal. He is now a huge Caps fan. I can honestly say the my friend John has launched me into the hockeysphere.

Keep up the good work J.P., Pepp and the boys!

First Caps memory:
So my family is from Colombia, and we had moved to the DC area when I was too small to remember. Our neighbors had two boys very close in age to my brother and me, and they quickly became our best friends. So there we were in their van, driving to the Caps Centre for a hockey game. I’m not sure my father knew what to expect out of a hockey game any better than I did.
As the van is going, our buddies and my big brother convince me to put one of my fingers up in the window at all the cars passing by. I think you can guess which finger it was. I had no idea what it meant. The laughter in the back seats around me finally drew some attention, and both dads shut the game down. My big brother got in a lot more trouble than I did.
Caps Centre was so dark, it had that banana-shaped roof and all those exposed catwalks up above. And then the game started and the ice was so bright. I was in love.

Second Caps memory:
We always bought 10 game plans. Every year we’d be sure to go to the January 1st game because that was stick day. We must have racked up more than a dozen sticks, which came in real handy later when roller hockey became popular in our neighborhood.
My favorite part of the drive was passing the “Gould” building on the beltway. I thought it was so cool that we’d drive right by a building with the same name as the heart and soul of the team. My least favorite part of the drive was the warren of side roads around the stadium. But then once we were through, there we were in Liberty Bell or Stars and Stripes parking lot. And it was finally time to go inside and see the game.
I used to scream my damned fool head off for the decibel meter in the corner, even though it was obviously rigged.

Third Caps memory:
So it was early high school. She had a Baltimore Orioles lunch bag. She was my first girlfriend, and we bonded over baseball. But then I introduced her to the Caps. And she fell in love with Jim “Ace” Carey. We wrote notes to each other in class about the Caps.
She lives in Orange County now and has two beautiful children.

Fourth Caps memory:
Late high school. The high school was an IB program, and the IB tests are just as hard as AP tests. Combined, I had 7 tests in two weeks — a daunting schedule for anyone. But that didn’t keep me from staying up for four overtimes the night before two of the exams.
Petr Fucking Nedved.

Fifth Caps memory:
Scaring my dog by screaming with joy when the Caps won Game 7 against the Rangers. I never had a dog as a kid. But now I’m an intellectual property lawyer way out in San Francisco. With a wife, a dog, and an abiding love for a hockey team.

As for my screen name, well, I put it better here than I could right now. If you don’t know who Bob Gould was, well, it’s worth looking him up. And Lou Franceschetti. And Gaetan Duchesne. And Jeff Courtnall. And Mike Ridley. If you don’t know who Kelly Miller was, make sure you find out. Because there are a lot of guys who put on the red, white, and blue (or, for about a decade, the copper, blue, and black) who never had the chance to play with anyone like Ovechkin. We’re all — players and fans alike — lucky to be fans of this team right now. I hope that sometime soon they can do what no Caps team has done before, and bring home a championship.

I’m Amanda, I’m 18, and I’m from northern virginia. I became a fan in december of 07.

Prior to my best friend forcing me to watch a game, I didn’t like hockey. Once I actually watched a game, I fell in love with it. I’m a big fan of all sports and in the year and a half since I started liking hockey, it’s become my favorite sport, easily.

I tend to be very facetious, I’m a bit of a homer, and I’m terribly sorry if I’ve ticked you off in the past.

Tom, originally from Baltimore, now live in Alexandria; 32. Avid fan of the Caps, Orioles, Ravens, and West Virginia Mountaineers (not always in that order)…oh, also beer. My seats for Caps games (the only team I’ve ever owned season tickets to) are in section 412.

Paint-driniking Pete comes from possibly the shortest lived named character in Simpson’s history (see episode “Hungry Hungry Homer”), although technically it tied into a time a college when, after a night of heavy inebriation, I woke up the following morning on the couch and said something to the effect of “It tastes like I’ve been drinking paint!”, and it just kinda grew from there.

I’m Shaye, 30, currently residing in NoVa – grew up in Pennsylvania, (PSU alum!) so I am a Phillies, Eagles fan, moved here 7 years ago.
- Fell in love with the Caps this year, thanks to a partial ticket plan, and an awesome team!
- Limited hockey knowledge, but thanks to this blog, I am learning a lot
- Consider myself a bit of a puck bunny, but hey why not?
- Am happy that my husband and I actually have a home team to root for – it’s nice!
- HOPING THAT THE CAPS WIN THE CUP THIS YEAR!!!

I’m Drew, 22, from Southern Maryland, but currently finishing up school in Philadelphia. I attend St. Joseph’s University and I’m a member of the Men’s Varsity Lacrosse team there.

I fell in love with the Caps in Kindergarten, when I first met Dale Hunter. I went to school with his daughter from Kindergarten through 5th grade, and my parents used to take me to about 10 games a year starting around Kindergarten.

My fondest Capitals memory is my Kindergarten “graduation”, when in front of the entire Chapel crowd, I asked Dale Hunter, “how many of your teeth are real”? Luckily, Dale broke out in to laughter, as did the crowd (that video is still a family favorite during the holidays).

Dale is such a wonderful person, and he would often show up to my tiny elementary school with Berube, Juneau, Oates, Bondra, Gonchar (and countless other Caps). They would sign autographs for us and talk to us for hours before they headed off to practice. This is why my love for the Caps started at such a young age, and will never die.

My name is Mike and I’m a Caps addict

(everyone here): Hi Mike!

I grew up in New York, although the first team I actually pulled for when I was growning up was the Atlanta Flames. Really! We had cable TV, which had a few channels, including WTBS from Atlanta, and we got every Flames game, so that’s who I pulled for (Ranger games were on a pay package that cost extra, ditto for the Islanders.)

When the Flames moved to Calgary, I sort of rooted for the Rangers. My dad had 1/4 season ticket so I got to go to 10 games (he always made sure to get all the Atlanta games, and he also got Calgary tickets after the move). But he dropped them after I went off to college in 1981. I was in Rochester, NY for 4 years and got to watch the Amerks dominate the AHL under their head coach Mike Keenan, including the team that won the Calder Cup in 1983 (my sophmore year) with only 1 loss in the entire playoffs (after losing only 13 regular season games!).

After college I relocated to the DC area, and bought a partial plan for the 1985-86 season (10 game pick’em, got all the Rangers and Flames games and a few others, 2 seats for $160 total), but by the end of the season, I was walking up and getting tickets. Before the playoffs, I bought season tickets.

I would root for the Caps except in the games involving the Rangers and Flames. Then in 1988, the Rangers traded two of my favorite players to the Caps for Bobby Carpenter. At that point, it was an easy decision to change my loyalties completely (admittedly I was ecstatic when the Flames won the Cup in 1989.)

Since then I’ve had various seats in the old and new arena, and currently I sit in the front row of Section 421, looking over Varly’s left shoulder as he stops all the shots. And as I said to Ted, the only way they’ll get my Caps tickets from me is out of my cold, dead hands.

I’m Ryan, 24, lifelong fan…been going to games since before I remember. It wasn’t my first game, but the one that likely hooked me for life was when I was at game 4 of the ’90 Patrick Division finals when Langway scored in OT to win it- it was the loudest thing I had ever heard in my life. Nowadays, I have season tickets in Section 110 and also kill time playing goalie in a local rec league.

I was a long time DC resident until moving to NC about 2 years ago…which coincides nicely with the Caps coming on strong! I really got into the Caps while I was in college thanks to a good buddy and NHL 92 on Sega. After college I returned to DC and got a partial season plan with my Dad and brother out at the Caps Centre. Eventually we upgraded that to a 20 game plan, but actually downsized it to 10 games when the Caps moved to MCI (we were nervous about the commute in from Mont Co.) After that first season we jumped into a full season ticket plan and never looked back.

I enjoyed hockey so much I started playing for a few years and discovered I’m much more suited to fanhood.

My fondest memory was the Ottawa series during the SCF run. It was pretty electric in those stands! I never wavered in my fanhood even during those dark years leading up to the lockout. And now, I hate that I no longer live in DC, but if moving away helped them win, well I guess I’m okay with that.

I lurk and learn here alot and appreciate JP, DMG, Pepper and everyone that keep me informed in season and out.

The name is Brandon, grew up on the Eastern shore of MD where hardly anybody followed hockey. Got interested in hockey after playing floor hockey in 5th grade gym class, went home and watched a caps game and fell in love with the sport and the Caps. Dino scored a couple goals, got into a fight…i was hooked.

Started playing hockey the next school year at a rink about 40 minutes away, would beg and plead with my parents to take me to games but we usually only got to 1 or 2 a year.

Was the unofficial hockey ambassador doing everything I could to convert fans through high school and college. Would organize large groups in college to go sit int he eagles nest seats.

Finally became a STH last season (404) but moved to 407 for playoffs and this upcoming season.

All time Caps favorite players were Dino and Dale.

Name’s Matthew. Live in Northern VA, but I work in Ballston (essentially next door to Kettler). Got into hockey as a kid and played a few seasons of little league before messing up my knee. havent skated since, but it got me into the caps (they were still playing at the USAIRena back then). been a huge fan of the caps ever since and go to as many games as possible. too poor for season tix and hating the fact that they did away with the eagles nest, but i still go anyways. wore number 12 in little league in peter bondra’s honor.

Yo!

I’m John… 28… Grew up in Pasadena (MD, not CA). Been a Caps fan from as far back as I can remember. Watching games w/ my uncle and playing some brand of hockey with my cousin using anything we could find. (little sticks from the game, spatulas on the kitchen floor, bottle caps, rubber balls, and small sofa cushions as goalie pads).

Made it to my first caps game at the Caps Centre in the late 80’s (against the Flames … hated their jerseys). then many more when my cousin would take me to sit in section 106 thru the 90’s.

I’ve been playing beer-league hockey for the last 6 years or so (with sombrero guy)… and coached the UMD Terps womens team last year school year.

All time caps fav player is Bondra because of the joy he showed when he scored, and have a dog named ovie… love him for the same reason.

I only post occasionally, but read daily. I’m too lazy to go look up my own stats, so I’ll only comment when I think I can get away with not having to do the extra work :-) or… if the commentary is about a player I loathe (most recently 55).

Steve, Austin, tx. 37. Started following the Caps around 1980’s. Fan, player, captain, coach (in that order).

Grew up in Virginia but lost track of the team here and there for a season due to consulting travels (I watched the entire ‘99 playoffs – including Brett Hull’s controversial Cup-winning goal – in a dance club on St. Thomas that for some reason showed the games). Has given me the chance to see the Caps play at the Molsen Centre, in Vancouver, Dallas…still trying to get back home to NoVa tho.

Like most I generally have an overall appreciation for the research, thoughts, and passion represented in the posts and may post things from time to time.

Matt, 29, born in DC, lived in MD for the first 22 years. US Navy Submarine Force (aka Uncle Sams’ Underwater Canoe Club) from 02-07. Now live in Howard Co and work @ ONI.

Been following the Caps since I was itty bitty. Favorite memory is hearing Dale’s Game 7 OT goal on the radio in my dad’s car when I was 8.

Hey all, I’ve posted some before but I thought I would introduce myself, as well. I’ve been reading the blog since it was back on blogspot, and my day feels empty if I haven’t visited the site. (seriously, I even visited anytime I found an internet connection when I was in Europe last year!)

My name is Jenn and I’m soon-to-be 27. I was born and raised in Baltimore, and grew up watching the Caps on TV. My dad is against buying tickets to professional sporting events (don’t ask!), but we would go to an occasional Baltimore Skipjacks game. One of my first memories of watching the Caps was the Stanley Cup year. My dad snuck me into a sports book in Las Vegas to watch the Finals. We were there on vacation. haha

My first live game just happened to be the first game back from the lockout and Ovie’s debut. I was hooked from that point on. I’m currently a season ticket holder (421 is where it’s at!), and I’m totally pumped for this season.

I graduated from Maryland with a journalism degree and love my Terps, hence my name. Obviously, I root for them, the Ravens, O’s and Caps. I also contribute to Ladies… as Raven. Check us out, but only if you like sports talk and ogling hot guys (it’s not for everyone! haha). I’ve become the Caps/Hockey expert over there, which is to say that not many of them follow hockey. lol

Hello all! Sparky here, currently residing in Baltimore when I’m not on tour with my band MISERY INDEX. I’m an infrequent poster, but figured I’d join in the fun as I’m a long time Capitals fan and read Japers every day.

I became a hockey fan after watching the US beat the Russians, and then the Finns to claim gold, at the 1980 Olympics. Later that year, at the age of 9, I moved with my family to Bowie, MD and immediately latched onto the Caps. I remember the Caps barely missing the playoffs in ‘81 and ’82, the ’Save the Caps’ campaign, the trade that brought Langway and Co. to DC and the eventual 1st trip to the playoffs later that year. The first of many games I attended at Capital Centre was in ‘83 or ’84. It was a fortunate situation to live so close to the arena. Listening to radio broadcasts with Ron Weber was a constant even after the number of televised games on broadcast/cable increased. In the late 80’s, I worked at Cap Centre on the changeover crew. Being such a huge fan of the Caps, it was pretty awesome to work in their home arena. One of my biggest Caps highlights, though, didn’t happen at a stadium, but rather at Piney Orchard in early June ’98 when myself and my dad, along with a lotta other Caps fans, greeted the team in the wee hours when they returned from beating Buffalo to clinch their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.

In later days, I’ve gone to a lot of games at MCI/Verizon Center as my mom has been a season ticket holder for the past few seasons. And, being relatively close to Hershey, I’ll make the trek northwards a few times a year to catch some Bears games. I’d probably be a STH myself, but rockin’ out in the band means I’m frequently out of town playing music. During my travels, I frequently wear Caps/Bears gear, including on stage, which always generates some interesting conversation when we travel through Canada and other hockey loving areas/countries. The Capitals have fans all over the world now, or at least it seems that way from all the great hockey conversations I’ve had with random people I’ve met. Through the wonders of the internet and XM, we’ve been able to listen to/watch Caps games all over the place, including Caps/Rangers on my laptop back in February when we were in Stockholm, Sweden for an evening, and listening to Kolbe call the games while we sit in the van outside of clubs all over North America waiting to play the gig that night. And, we were lucky this year to see every Caps playoff game on TV when we were on tour in Canada in late April/May this year. Caps-related highlights from my musical travels include wearing my Ovie jersey onstage when we played in Moscow in Feb. ‘07, and getting interviewed by Chris Porter/Washington Post Express about my band’s love for the Caps just prior to this season’s playoffs ( http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/04/metal_on_ice_misery_index_on_the_washing.php – inty starts at 1:35). We fly the Capitals flag high and proud as we bring the Metal to the People! haha

Thanks to all at Japers for the good work you do. LET’S GO CAPS!!!

WATSUP! – My name is Ameer. I grew up in the mean streets of Centreville, Va. I know live in Arlington. I’ve been a Caps fan for 20+ years. Don’t really know how I got into it, but one day my neighbor came over to watch something with my brother, and it turned out to be a hockey game, I wanted to hang out with the cool kids so I watched. Turned out that was Game 7 vs the Flyers. Since that day, Dale Hunter is my all time favorite Capital. I think my first Caps game was one of the first games after they traded Gartner- I think it was Vancouver, i don’t know if they won or loss, all I know is I had a blast.

I’ve been reading the Rink for about a year and half maybe longer, the guys at OFB introduced me to it, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I sit in sec 426. I’m the fat loud guy- Sorry. And I’m a leaner – so sorry to the folks behind me. I’m doing better I swear.

If you can’t tell by my handle, I’m a VT grad – that’s Va Tech, not Vermont (though I did root for them in the Frozen 4 this year). Caps/Skins/VT keep me so busy I don’t really have a life other then that.

LET’S GO CAPS!

Yuri. Still remember watching the great Soviet-Canada series of 1972 as a little kid… that was quite an exciting event, so much promoted by the Soviets as a “good-against-evil” fight. Was mad about the Makarov-Larionov-Krutov line of the 80’s, they could’ve played with shut eyes and still knew where the other two are. Then hot 90’s in Israel, no hockey AT ALL… Well, there’s one ice rink in the country but far-far to the North, near the border with Lebanon.
In MD since ’02. First had other things to worry about + NHL lockout but in the end got dragged back into hockey. At one point found my wife and younger daughter sitting next to me and watching the Caps with sparkling eyes and since then we three occasionally go to the VC.
Go Caps.

Hey there, my name is Charlie and have been addicted to reading Japers since I got laid off in March (have a bit of time on my hands now). You guys/gals on this site seem to have a really good insight to the inner workings of the team such as salary caps and salaries and information on players. I live 90 mins from the DC area (across the river on the MD side from Harpers Ferry WV) so I havent been to many Caps games but watch them religiously on TV. Reading this site has generated such a great interest to me that I made my way to Kettler yesterday to watch Development Camp.

Rob, rising 3L in Arlington. Caps fan since I was a little kid growing up in Rockville. Moved to NY when I was 9 but I never lost the Caps loyalty (O’s fandom died many years ago, never liked the ‘skins). My parents still have a bunch of the hand out street hockey sticks they used to give away at games. All time favorite hockey players: 1) AO 2) Doug Gilmour 3) Scott Stevens. First Cap game: I don’t remember the date but the Caps beat down the Rags in Landover. I’ve been hooked ever since. I have so many great Cap memories but I gotta say I love riding the LIRR home from MSG and absolutely making Rags fans look stupid when they trash talk me (massive retaliation/escalation is the key). I’ve never been to a Hershey Bears game but I’ve played many games on that ice over Thanksgiving weekends in my youth.

Scott (duh). Attorney, 30, living in Shaw (duh) with my wife and dog. The former got me into hockey when we started dating in 2005. I’m originally from Philly (Go Eagles, Skins suck, etc.), but never watched hockey so had no attachment to the Flyers (thank God) and got immediately hooked going to games with her. I am glad I got to see two awful seasons of hockey, because I think that helps me appreciate the last two that much more. We share season tickets in Section 110. I found the Rink in the Blogspot days and followed the gang over here. I sometimes antagonize JP in the comments, but try to make up for it by passing along gossip obtained on the youth hockey circuit.

Ron, age 45. Grew up all over the world Holland, UK, Brazil, Mexico and Canada. Attended elementary school and played hockey with Gary Nylund in Delta, BC Canada. He was so much better and faster than everybody. We’d rush to school 3 hours before it started to play floor hockey in the gym, then toss hockey cards against the walll (closest to the wall gets both cards). Name-wise, I wanted to be Pivonka, but erred when starting up my account way back when. When we were dating , I always remembered my wife-to be yelling “let’s go Pivonka !!” at games at the Cap Centre. Pi is cool I suppose since it never ends.

I’m Andrew. I’m 35 and live in Greektown in Baltimore. Born in D.C. and grew up in Bowie.

Yvon Labre, the first Cap to have his sweater retired, lived about three blocks from me and had a son about the same age. So I loved playing hockey in the street or tennis court long before I knew anything about the NHL. Didn’t have cable TV growing up, but watched many HTS games and a lot of Gretzky/Oilers on ESPN at a friend’s house. Finally went to my first game at about 13.

I remember I got hooked after my Dad took me to a game in Landover and Kelly Miller scored in OT – the arena and the game itself were so passionate and such a different experience then baseball or football. Back then, before everyone made millions, a lot of players could be spotted at local ice arenas with their kids or at the mall, etc. I was struck by how approachable and nice these guys were. As vicious as Dale Hunter is, he’s a family man and very friendly off the ice. He’s also not a steroid-addled freak like an NFL guy or a 6’10" bling-laden NBA type with hip-hop blaring from his Mercedes. There’s something different about hockey that, over time, I really identified with.

Around 1993-94 I became a diehard hockey fan. Always loved the Caps but once I could watch games from around the league I also had other heroes. Doug Gilmour’s maniacal play that year led to an ill-fated run as a Leafs fan. I must admit I even cheered for them in the Caps’ building a couple times. I guess I was a hockey fan first – I think a lot of area fans probably went through that phase.

The hiring of McPhee really brought me back into the fold – I love the guy. And now, to have a site like this one makes it easy to follow your team in depth. Years ago, there was just more exposure to other teams available – heck, the Caps even sold their tickets with the attitude of ‘come see Lemieux play!’

My job now involves strange hours and lots of travel, so I don’t get to a lot of games. But I remember the feeling of being @ Verizon against Carolina when #8 scored his 63rd goal and the place was going crazy. As a guy that’s followed the team to varying degrees since the mid 80’s, that was such a great moment – we were a real NHL team with our own culture, our own superstar, and a packed barn all dressed in red. Finally…

So, any of you folks around Baltimore please feel free to drop me a note and we’ll catch a game and a few drinks. My girlfriend has become a fairly knowledgeable and very intense Caps fan too – she was previously in love with Patrick Roy and the Avs. I guess we’d be up for a double-date cookout or something. Hope to meet some of you this coming season, because I think this is The Year…

I’m Moby, 18, and have been following the site since the blogspot days. I post on occassion, but mostly lurk.
I live in Moco, spent my first two years of high school at Walter Johnson in Bethesda and my past two in Toronto, and I’ll be going to Northeastern starting in the fall. I’ve been in love with and playing hockey since I was 6 after I saw D2 on TV.
I went to my first game after my uncle got me seats behind the bench for christmas. I remember it being against the Islanders and us winning, but I can’t put my finger on when it was exactly…maybe around 3rd or 4th grade. I remember being way rattled after a puck found its way into the bench and into Tim Army’s hands, who then went ahead to toss it to the kid sitting NEXT to me. I asked Smitty (amazes me how long he’s been around) that if thath appened again if he could toss it to me. He was more capable of understanding the unlikelyhood of that happening than my tiny mind could at the time, so he instead went and got me a puck out of the bucket right then. Of course, it wasn’t the same, but i was ecstatic never the less.
My most memorable memory, however, comes in two parts. I think I was around 8 or 9 years old, sporting my brand new Kolzig jersey-shirt. I couldn’t afford a real jersey but I rocked that shirt just the same for years to come. Anyways, at the end of a game Olie was heading through the tunnel back to the locker room and I leaned over the railing to get a high five. To my surprise, he hands up his stick right to me. I couldn’t believe it, and was about to go nuts. Instead, some 40-something asian woman standing next to me grabs the stick from my hands, stating “he gave it to me” and begins to run off with it. I instantly burst into tears and started shouting at her at the top of my lungs, but my mom and I lost her in the crowd. I had never been so devestated. I couldn’t believe that anyone would do that to a child, and to this day I’ve never felt such ill will towards any other person in my life. I figured I’d never have an opportunity like that again. However, found myself in the same situation at another game I was at…I can’t recall how long later. I stuck my hand out over the railing, again looking for just high fives. Against all odds, Olie again comes through, and again despite all the people sticking their hands over the railing he picks me and hands his stick back up. This time I made sure to hang on to it tight. Funny enough, that game was the one where Richard Zednik had gotten back from his suspension after he crosschecked someone in the jaw, and EITM had rounded up their army of Zed-Heads. I ended up crossing paths with Elliot on the metro ride back home, which was equiviliant to seeing an A-List celebrity for me at the time (yes, I know, I’ve been listening to him from a really young age…I think it explains a lot haha). I showed off my new piece of lumber and told him I was a huge fan to his surprise. The stick is still hanging up in my room back home.
Anyways, that’s me, and I’d like to give a thanks to everyone on this site who makes it what it is.

P.S., if whoever teefed my stick is by any chance reading this, you suck.

I’m Marcus, I am 15, and I have been a Capitals fan since 2005. Most if not all of you will jump on me for being a bandwagon fan and only liking the Caps because of Ovechkin, but that is not the case. I have been a Sharks fan all of my life and I have seen many players come and go from our team. One of those players, Matt Bradley, is currently a member of the Capitals and has been since 2005 as well. So, not only does my favorite non-Shark play for the Caps (he was also a Caps fan growing up), but one of my favorite all time players. It has been great to see Matt success have success with the Caps, especially in this year’s playoffs. Through this blog, I hope to become more of a Capitals fan.

My name is Kelly (I’m sure you couldn’t guess that), I’m 23 (24 in a little over a week!), and I’ve been a Caps fan for pretty much my entire life. I live in Arlington now, but grew up in the DC area (Kensington, MD and Springfield, VA). I went to Virginia Tech, and moved back up here a couple years ago after finishing my Masters to start teaching high school math. One of the first things I set out to do when I moved back was to become a season ticket holder – which finally happened this season, so I’m super stoked :) I’ve been following Japers’ Rink for the past couple years – it gives me something to look forward to during my planning periods while school’s in! I still consider myself a student of the game, but I usually surprise people I meet with how much I know… I guess they don’t expect it out of a little girl like me, haha. Favorite Caps are Kelly MIller and Brooks Laich (which I’m sure you can tell by my avator). Now that it’s summer and development camp is over, I’m really glad I picked up a summer waitressing job… because otherwise, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself!

oh yeah, and thehoagster07 is my brother :)

I live in Cleveland Park, although I spend most of my time traveling around the world for the State Department (I am in Sunny Vienna for the next three weeks). It is an excellent job, but it prevents me from seeing more than a few games in person. NHL Gamecenter Live works great, though, and I watched almost all of the playoff games this year when I was in Naha, Sapporo, and Fukuoka Japan (They were on at 8 am). Fortunately, I was working during game 7, but I followed the action in the open thread here and suffered with the rest of you.

I was at the very first Capitals home game, and also at the very first home win. I would estimate that I’ve probably been to about 800 games or so, including most playoff games until the last couple of years, so you could probably call me a pretty serious fan.

I was in Russia last summer and I ran into Ovi and Semin in Moscow – just walking down the street.

I wanted a new jersey when they came out last year, so I decided that I would get the player who scored the first goal of the season – turned out to be Nylander. Oh well…

But I do have a black game-worn Dale Hunter, and that kind of makes up for it.

If you are ever bored and want to look at snapshots of faraway places, you can check out my travel blog, http://www.bpwtf.org

or not.

I have to say, the twenty-four hours waiting to be able to post have been agony! Thank goodness that’s over.

Hey, everyone. Dan, 25, from the mystical woodlands of Clifton, VA. I’m a software developer, full-time geek, and part-time hockey player. I graduated from George Mason in 2008, and will be returning, mostly because I have an undying academic streak in me, but partially for additional pieces of paper.

I was not born a Caps fan. My family is from upstate New York, and in my younger years, I was a Bruins fan, particularly because of Ray Bourque. I was thrilled when he finally won a Cup in Colorado, and the series helped fully cement my love for the game of hockey. I started playing about that time.. and continue to do so, in a great inline house league here in NoVA. I’ve played for a number of teams, including the George Mason team. I typically play as a second-line center, screening the net, putting in rebounds, winning face-offs, and killing penalties. No, I am not expecting a call from GMGM any time soon, considering my hockey weight is 140! Also, I’m a lefty, have no slapshot whatsoever, one breakaway move (backhand to forehand, drag, blocker side high), and backcheck faster than I breakout, for some odd reason I have yet to understand.

Anyway, I was always happy to see the Caps do well, but was never a fan until 2004. The Capitals draft locked it up for me, that I was going to start rooting big-time for the home team. For AO? Nah, though we’re all really lucky to have him here, and I have become a big OV8 fan, jersey and all. No, it was the drafting of Chris Bourque, the son of my all-time favorite hockey player, and the idea that he was going to be playing in my hometown. Of course, his path to the NHL hasn’t been overwhelming, and as much as I’d like him to have a mainstay on the Caps roster, nothing is certain. That said, I’m a Caps fan, and that’s all that really matters!

The name Winterion comes from Winterion Game Studios, an operation I founded to work as a creative house of sorts for gaming projects. I worked for years at Game Parlor in Chantilly, an absolutely wonderful mom-and-pop game store. Now, I’m putting what I’ve learned to use, including working on a number of supplemental titles for the Alpha Chronicles role-playing system, published locally here in Dale City. In my off time, I’m also practicing my programming skills, to eventually migrate these pen and paper games to a digital format.

Yes, I have a blood-dork level at least twice over the legal limit.

Hi.