We are honored to celebrate Mike’s career tonight.
To be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame is a great honor and to have the team you were drafted by and flourished with retire your jersey is also a fitting capstone to a great career in the NHL. The fans remember your great play and achievements and your contributions to our franchise. Congratulations to you and your family. You will always be a Washington Capital in our eyes.
Kudos, Ted, for the outstanding honoring of Mike Gartner. As a charter season ticket holder and co-chair of Save the Caps, I can assure you that Mike was for several years our only shining star. Even out here in California, the video tribute you did for him brought tears to my eyes. Thanks!
I echo that – there was much warm applause for Ted, and for George McPhee on screen. I’m sure there was less of that during the tough rebuilding seasons, but it’s paying off now.
I was also pleasantly surprised with just how polite most fans were. Saw lots of families there, and more Caps jerseys and caps and all kinds of apparel than I’ve ever seen at a game (I haven’t been to a Caps game in about 3 years).
Gartner was my favorite Capital through most of the 1980s, and I was aghast when they traded him in 1989, even if Dino C. helped get them closer to the Promised Land in 1990.
Anyways, keep up the good work. I hope to attend more games in the future.
Congrats to you too Ted, watching the ceremony you could hear the warm ovation that the Caps fans gave you when Mike mentioned you in his speech … not a lot of owners get the same treatment (I dare Dolan to show up at the Garden).