To celebrate the Washington Capitals 40th anniversary on Sunday night, CSN Washington unearthed amazing footage of Olie Kolzig getting drafted 26 years ago. The video shows Caps director of player personnel Jack Button selecting the mammoth goaltender from the WHL’s Tri-City Americans on June 17, 1989.
“And you know the Washington Capitals need a goalie,” current lead play-by-play man of HNIC Jim Hughson said way back then. “Obviously, they can’t think that Olie The Goalie, as he’s called with the Tri-City Americans, will step in and lead them to a championship right away, but the first goaltender comes from the Western Hockey League. He’s the eighth Western Leaguer taken in this draft. Olaf Kolzig to the Washington Capitals.”
Wow, those comments are perfect. Also perfect: the mullets.
Take a look at Barry Trotz at the bottom of the screen here.
And Kolzig. Like what do you even call this type of mullet?
After hugging his mom, Kolzig walked up to the stage and threw on his new Caps jersey and hat just like they do nowadays. He flashed a smile.
The South African, drafted 19th overall, became the greatest goaltender of his draft class (20 were selected overall) and did indeed take the Capitals to the Stanley Cup Finals nine years later. He played 719 games in total and won 301 games. And go figure, the second best goaltender from the draft would become Kolzig’s best friend: Byron Dafoe.
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