Editor’s Note: RMNB reader Lily P. went to Washington Capitals practice a few days before the NHL’s Christmas break. Instead of asking a player for an autograph or a photo with them, she went high concept. Here is her story.

After wanting to go for a very, very long time, I finally went to a Caps practice at Kettler on December 23rd. I had a very special experience. One of my favorite players is Braden Holtby and I really wanted to meet him. He was practically the last guy on the ice that day but as he started making his way towards the locker room, he turned and walked back towards the fence where I was after a few kids shouted his name.

Despite looking absolutely exhausted, Braden signed a whole bunch of autographs. I was really close in line petrified, not knowing what to do.

At that moment, my sister, who was there beside me, gave me a nudge and shared a creative idea. “Give your phone to Braden,” she said. “Have him take a selfie!”

“What?” I said back to her, not knowing if Braden would be hip to the language.

After a few seconds of tentativeness, I just went with it.

As Holtby looked at me, I handed him my mobile device and said, “Can you take a selfie with my phone?!”

Braden obliged, and started examining my phone. After a minute or so, he looked unsure what to do. Chuckling, he asked back, “What?”

I replied, “Take a selfie with it!” I made hand motions and flipped through a few settings. I explained it to him a little.

He then took the phone back, did his thing, and returned it back to me.

Because a few people were in line in front of me and I’m kind of short, I could not see what he did.

As I opened my Photos app, I became very excited. There it was. The Holtby selfie. Braden made the biggest grin he possibly could. He did it perfectly!

Ever since late December, it’s been my most cherished photo. I’m glad I could share it with all of you.