All people who donated blood, got a Carlson Jersey T-Shirt and this AWESOME bobblehead. (Photo by Suzanne Kang)

Friend of the Blog, Suzanne Kang is a big Caps Fan. She also lives in Virginia. With these two requirements satiated, she’s fit to guest-write for our blog. Today, the Washington Captials hosted a blood drive for Inova Blood Donor Services in Sterling, VA. Here’s a recap of her day.

I’ve donated blood a time or two, both on my own and through blood drives. So suffice to say, I was expecting the usual: go in to a room full of stations, get stuck by a needle, watch Ian cry, get my blood drained, get a cool colored bandage and sticker, drink juice and eat cookies and go home. While the process of the actual blood donation was pretty much the same, there was one big difference.

Not only did we get the free juice and cookies, but all donors who at least attempted to donate blood received a thank you bag with a John Carlson jersey t-shirt and bobblehead. There was also some activity going on outside. Being that it was 100 degrees today, not too many people seemed that interested in the “block party” going on. While there was music, food, giveaways, an art studio and a street hockey set up in the parking lot out front, everyone was waiting in line inside for the main attraction. John Carlson, Captain America himself, was at the blood drive signing autographs.

While waiting in line to get my shirt and bobblehead signed, I learned that after signing autographs for the donors Carlson would also be donating blood himself. So, not only is Carlson a hero on the ice, but he’s also a hero off of it.

Getting cool memorabilia and helping save lives with a hockey player in the middle of July was not a shabby way to spend a Saturday afternoon. It was pretty much a huge win all around.