Eliot Antonietti’s Last Great Act at Caps Development Camp: Giving Away His Really, Really Tall Sticks

July 14, 2014 10:37 am

Photo: Chris Gordon

I attended Fanfest at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on Saturday, and it was adorbs as usual. After Team White won 7-4, the prospects headed to the locker room. Hearing his name called by the fans amassing at the railing nearby, first-round pick Jakub Vrana broke from the pack to sign autographs. Nearby, and not needing an invitation of his own, the six-foot, six-inch behemoth Eliot Antonietti walked off the ice and made a bee line to his people.

After being one of the most talked about prospects during the week (due to his massive beard and massive height), The Swiss Chara gave his game-used sticks to fans– including one to a teeny tiny Caps fan.

Photos: Ian iPad

Aw, man. Look at that ridiculous stick-to-person height difference.

Photo: Chris Gordon

The Boston Bruins’ Zdeno Chara, who stands at six-feet, nine-inches, has the longest stick in the NHL at 65 inches. Chara had to get a league exemption to get sticks that tall. The tallest sticks usually allowed by the NHL is 63 inches, which is what I’m guessing Antonietti’s were during Development Camp.

Moving forward, we’ll all wait with bated breath to see if Antonietti gets signed or brought back to the organization. Regardless, he was easily the most memorable guy of camp and I wish him well.