Good Vibes Even in a Loss
Thank you.
Tags: Hockey, NHL, Ted Leonsis, Ted's Take, Washington Capitals
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I think Caps fans, players, owners and staff have so many reasons to celebrate this season. It was far from a failure! I have never been prouder to be a Caps fan and cannot wait until September. Please McPhee - make the right deals this offseason. We are so close.
Thank you for a wonderful season. Looking forward to being back in Section 421 with our new friends. CO CAPS
head’s up, Ted, we had an amazing season and we’ll have a better team next year. I’ll be buying season tix next season for sure, I don’t want to miss an exciting year next year!!! Thank you for everything!!!! I can’t wait for October
Yes … very sad. But a true beginning. And what a great start! Proud to be a fan and season ticket holder. Glad to have the rep in the office as “the caps fan” wearing red blouses & sweaters frequently. GO CAPS. On to next year!
I am very optimistic of the teams future. This is exactly the brand of hockey that the team/league needs. I don’t think there is a player still in the playoffs, especially the Penguins that isn’t breathing a sigh of relief today! This team will make noise soon! To yourself and all of the management, have a terrific off-season.
I would like to extend an invite to any members of the organization to a very memorable weekend fishing trip in northern Manitoba ( Lynn Lake )during the months of July or August. Feel free to extend this invite to any interested players, coaches, personnel, etc.
Reply back for details.
Yes George make it happen!! This season was out of this world!!!!! As a long time fan the loss of game 7 didnt leave that yuky taste as so many in the past have, after this loss its as Tom Loverro says in his article their success has just been “interrupted”
So come on September!!!! WooHoo CAPS
Thanks, Ted, for being a passionate, COMMITTED pro sports franchise owner. Kudos to Sean Goodman of your sales staff, who took care of my son & I when we won the meet & greet auction with Mike Green during the regular season. Sean went above and beyond in making the experience one that my 8 year old son will never forget.
As disappointed as we were leaving last night’s game, we are even more optimistic in what the future holds for this team. Thanks for a season of memories that will last our family a lifetime.
Dave
I am so thrilled with the team. I am so thrilled with the owner. You are doing us right Ted. Thank you, thank you, thank you. The team gave everything they had and left it all out there. I can’t wait until next season. I love, love, love this team. I am, and will always be a Caps fan until the end of my days. I can’t wait to hear that familar sound from the announcers next season “Green to Backstrom to Ovechkin GOAL!” C-A-P-S-Caps! Caps! Caps!
P.S. Could we have a navy blue jersey (and white and red mixed in similar to the new awesome style) with the new Eagle design on the chest as an alternate for next season?
Thanks for a great season. Please let all the players know how much the fans appreciate them. We have become avid hockey fans after our kid started playing roller hockey. We’ve been able to get to 4 games this year and hope to get to more next year. We live too far away to do season tickets. The players very patiently signed autographs and have been inspirational to our hockey playing kids. My husband wrote a column for the Culpeper Star Exponent and I am going to try to add it to the bottom. Judy
Wow, that is a real good article. Thanks for sharing it with us. You are a man of many talents.
Chris
rjma wrote:
This is my column in today’s Culpeper paper. robert
Culpeper Star Exponent
April, 10, 2008
Robert Legge
Catching the Hockey Craze
It’s not too late to get on the Bandwagon
It’s probably the best story DC area sports fans have seen in years. Unfortunately many won’t notice because it’s not one of the “big 3″- football, baseball, or basketball.
The Washington Capitals were the worst team in the National Hockey League late last November, (after finishing last the previous 3 years) when management decided to make a coaching change. They tapped Bruce Boudreau, a long time minor league coach on an interim basis to give them time to interview several “real” coaches. Boudreau was a frumpy-looking guy who you might mistake for someone who cuts your salami at the deli.
But they won their first game, then another. The Caps’ regular season ended last Saturday after winning 11 out of 12 and the division crown. It was the first time that any NHL team had won a division crown after being in last place at mid-season.
They never did get around to interviewing any “real” coaches. Now Boudreau is in the running for Coach of the Year.
The other great part of the story may only mean something to those over 40 who remember the Cold War. Back then, Russians were a people to be feared if not despised. No one in Washington could ever have contemplated that in 2008, the most popular person in town would actually be a Russian- Alex Ovechkin, the Caps superstar and hockey’s most exciting player and this year’s presumptive NHL MVP. Who could not love the painfully shy 22-year old who jumps into his teammates arms after they score a goal. Instead of some high-priced agent, he had his mom negotiate his $130 million contract with the team. Teammates chided him for resorting to the Internet to find a girlfriend, who for a week didn’t believe he was really the famous hockey player.
In fact, there are 3 other Russians on the Caps along with 2 others from the former Eastern Bloc. Those 6 outnumber the 5 US-born Cap players. A nuclear standoff with Alex’s home country now is unthinkable. Cap fans would hold protests outside the State Dept. and White House.
Now I understand if some readers are unimpressed. I too was never a hockey fan until recent years. It started with my son who had a friend who played. A few years later my daughter signed up and became a goaltender. Then we all started following the Caps.
Of course, without a ice rink, that means inline skates rather than ice skates and a ball instead of a puck. Madison and Fauquier counties have popular programs. Culpeper used to have one but no longer does. If kids could see how much fun and exciting it is, I’m sure plenty would want to play. Someday Culpeper may have a ice rink but until then inline hockey is a very nice alternative. Madison’s league started with some wooden boards around an unused tennis court. While it may have the reputation as a tough sport, injuries are far less common or serious than in most other sports.
Every sport has its special qualities. What draws people to hockey? A hockey goal happens at roughly the same frequency as a touchdown in football. But imagine your team or the opposition each scoring, or far more often almost scoring, a touchdown, sometimes 40 or more times per game. That’s how it is with hockey. The emotional exhilaration is not for the faint of heart.
One of the problems hockey has had in gaining fans especially outside traditional hockey climates is that the puck can be hard to follow on TV. One technological advance that is making a big difference is the increase in the number of homes with widescreen High Definition televisions. Such HD sets make it much easier to follow the fast-moving puck. If you haven’t watched a hockey game recently, give the Caps a try during their Stanley Cup run. The first games are tomorrow and Sunday. I think you’ll see what I mean. It’s not too late to get on the bandwagon.
Thanks to you (ownership) - the team and the other fans - for a great season - looks like I’ll need to figure out a new nick. While disappointed the Caps won’t be moving on, I haven’t been frustrated often at all since Bruce Boudreau came to town. I’ve got a partner for my seats again next season and I can’t wait to see what next season brings. LETS GO CAPS!!!!