On Wednesday night, the Washington Capitals held an open house at Verizon Center. John Walton hosted a chalk talk in the lower bowl while Verizon Center employees began creating the new ice sheet for next season behind him. On top of that, Caps rookie forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, who may challenge for will win the Calder Trophy next year, signed autographs for the adoring public.
As I hung out around the line forming to meet Kuznetsov, a fan that looked awfully darned familiar introduced himself to me. “Hi, I’m Max,” the teenager said with a big smile. “I’m from this!”
He then pointed to a 8×10”photo that landed on RMNB in late July.
Let me refresh your memory:
RMNB reader and mega Caps fan Max attended Tuesday’s exhibition game at FedEx Field between Inter Milan and Manchester United. Because, like I said, Max is a mega Caps fan, he donned his Caps hat instead of the traditional soccer kit or scarf or something. (I barely watch soccer, my bad.) That decision worked out well for young Max.
Sitting in his same section were Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov. The Russian Caps spotted Max in his Weagle hat and — get this — asked Max to come over.
Selfies ensued.
Max, along with his dad David, traveled to Verizon Center to get the selfie Kuznetsov asked to take with him signed. Figuring this was an interaction worth seeing, I walked with them as they approached the young Russian.
As Max slid the photo over to Kuzya, a giant smile erupted from the Chelyabinsk native’s face. I recall him saying in an excited tone, “it’s you!” He then signed the photo and gave it a special inscription.
A gigantic smiley face.
As Max and his father walked away from the line, I saw some legitimate freaking out– the good kind. Max then asked to take a photo with me because as he explained, I was part of “one of the coolest days of his life.”
Max, you helped do the exact same thing for me yesterday.
Funny how that works. Go Caps.
