On June 4th, 1998, Joe Juneau scored the biggest goal in Washington Capitals history, pushing a rebound past Buffalo Sabres goaltender Dominik Hasek 6:24 into overtime. The goal sent the Capitals to the Stanley Cup Final for the first and only time in franchise history.
I was 13-years-old then. When Juneau scored, I remember jumping up and down, screaming at the top of my lungs. I ran up and down our upstairs hallway. When I got bored with that, I ran up and down the stairs of my parents’ home in Frederick, Maryland, until I couldn’t do it anymore.
It was one of the few things I vividly remember from my childhood. It makes me emotional just thinking about how much hockey meant to me then. Look at me now, right? Hockey is my life. I don’t know if this is sad, but watching the Juneau goal happen live was one of the happiest moments of my life.
But tonight, I want a new favorite hockey memory.
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I remember Juneau lifting his arms in celebration as he was mobbed by his teammates. Chris Simon, with his long flowing black hair, lifted him into the sky.
After the handshakes were done, captain Dale Hunter actually touched the Prince of Wales trophy. He handed it off to Joe Reekie. Reekie skated the thing around like it was the Stanley Cup, being booed by Buffalo Sabres fans.
Watching ESPN2, I was so excited that I was both laughing and tearing up. I couldn’t believe this was really happening.
I want a new favorite hockey memory.
“Everybody wants to be a hero in a game like this,” Juneau told reporters that night. “I really believed our line was going to end up scoring the winning goal.”
I want a new favorite hockey memory.
After the game, the Caps flew home to BWI and the team bus stopped by Piney Orchard Ice Arena, where thousands of Capitals fans packed the rink celebrating. Each player chucked their Eastern Conference Champions hat into the crowd smiling. The area was suddenly becoming a burgeoning hockey town.
@russianmachine 20 seasons ago Juneau scored the game winner. At Piney Orchard after the game, each player was on the ice and threw their hat to the crowd. I got his. Tonight, I break it out for the first time. LETS GO CAPS!!!! pic.twitter.com/CKueBknvJB
— Kevin Johnston (@KevinJ1313) May 23, 2018
I want a new favorite hockey memory.
The next day, my parents got a copy of The Washington Times. I cut out the sports section which featured a photo of Dale Hunter and taped the clipping to the my door. It stayed there until I graduated college and moved out a decade later.
I want a new favorite hockey memory.
I’ve dedicated the last nine years of my life doing RMNB because I love this team, I love this sport, and I love being a part of this fanbase so much. My biggest hockey dream is hugging and kissing the Stanley Cup after the Caps win it all. That to me would make all of the sleepless nights, the nerves, the failed quizzes because of quadruple overtime goals scored by the Penguins, and the missing time with the people I love worth it. Just that one moment.
Beyond things that have happened with my family, my son, and my close friends, that’s the one memory I want to grow old with and experience before my time on earth is up.
I want a new favorite hockey memory.
Headline photo: Joe Traver
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