After the Washington Capitals concluded their first and only practice on the Winter Classic ice sheet, head coach Barry Trotz gathered his team in a semi-circle.
“They’re kicking us off the ice so we can let our families and let the people who helped us get here and the people you care about have some time on the ice,” Trotz said as the group disbanded. It was at that point dozens of friends, girlfriends, wives, and children came out onto the ice to enjoy a family skate with the Caps.
“This is Belle,” Braden Holtby said to EPIX cameras. “This is her first time on the ice.”
“Too bad you won’t remember this,” Holtby said, as he head turned to his new-born daughter. “We will.”
Brooks Laich could be seen skating with his girlfriend Julianne Hough. Trotz even got to say hello to Alex Ovechkin‘s mom and dad, Tatyana and Mikhail.
“It’s been a pleasure to work with your son,” Trotz said to Ovechkin’s parents, as the Russian machine translates. “I don’t know if it’s a pleasure coming back, but I know it’s a pleasure this way. I think we get along.”
“Happy New Year, health, good luck for the whole team and your family,” Ovechkin’s father responded back in Russian.
“The same thing goes for you,” Trotz said.
Family Skate GIFs
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