Mike Richards had his biggest night as a Capital Monday, scoring the game-winning goal in Washington’s 3-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes. The two-time Stanley Cup champion received a roaring standing ovation from the Verizon Center crowd, a gesture that made Richie emotional postgame.
“It was nice,” Richards said. “It’s been a while since I scored a goal so it’s definitely nice. Thank you.”
But Richards didn’t stop there. As he walked down the tunnel toward the locker room, Richards noticed a kid wearing his number ten Caps jersey. He reached up and gave the young Caps fan the stick he scored the game-winning goal with. The kid’s reaction was priceless.
The face says it all.https://t.co/dZpYFlWF9M
— NHL (@NHL) February 23, 2016
Pure excitement.
After the game, the child’s father, Jeff, emailed RMNB. He said Richards’ kind gesture made his son, Alex, a “fan for life.”
This was our only regular season game this year (so far!). We had the tickets right over the Caps’ locker room entrance, so we stayed late to cheer the players on as they exited and then cheer for the three stars as well. When Mike went to sit for the interview with Smokin’ Al, my son Alex (not named after Ovi, but a happy coincidence) wanted to stay and try to give Mike a high-five as he walked in. All he wanted was to give Mike a high-five, and he assumed that Mike was just reaching up with the stick to give him something to connect with. It never occurred to my son that Mike might be trying to give him the stick, and it took me a second to realize it as well, I sort of had to prod my son to take it. He was absolutely stunned excited about it, and told everyone who would listen about the story on the Metro ride home.
I seriously wonder if the fact that Alex was wearing #10, had anything to do with it.
I think so, Jeff.
And that, my friends, is how to win with class.
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