On Wednesday, recently re-signed defenseman John Carlson became the first Capitals player to spend his day with Lord Stanley’s cup.
Carlson opted to remain in Washington, and took the Cup around Bethesda, MD. He visited first responders at the Bethesda firehouse, Children’s National Medical Center, the now-renowned Mamma Lucia’s, as well as held a parade and fundraiser for Defeat DIPG, before concluding his day with a private party at Salt Line in Navy Yard.
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Bethesda Firehouse
Carlson’s first stop was Bethesda firehouse. His oldest son, Lucca, accompanied him while sporting an appropriate Paw Patrol t-shirt for the occasion.
Photos: @Capitals
Children’s National Medical Center
The next stop for Carlson and the Cup was Children’s National Medical Center. Carlson wheeled the Cup in on a gurney, while “We Are The Champions” played, much to the delight of all the children there.
John Carlson just brought the Stanley Cup into the atrium at Children’s National Medical Center. As you might imagine, the kids were kind of excited. #Caps pic.twitter.com/lqZLBOTWGf
— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) July 4, 2018
John Carlson arrives to Children’s National hospital with the Stanley Cup. @NBC4Sports @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/o5z0iiDI8w
— Sherree Burruss (@SherreeBurruss) July 4, 2018
Hello from John Carlson’s Stanley Cup day at Children’s National Hospital, where the Cup is being wheeled in on a gurney as “We Are The Champions” plays. pic.twitter.com/RMvR8lxmtf
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) July 4, 2018
John Carlson wheeling the Stanley Cup into Children’s National Medical Center in Washington. He’s celebrating the 4th with Cup. pic.twitter.com/dAbAJxsHnf
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) July 4, 2018
John Carlson taking photos with children and their families at Children’s National Medical Center in DC. pic.twitter.com/by20nyUbHq
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) July 4, 2018
Carlson and the Cup then made their way up to the Healing Garden, a place for the children admitted to the center to enjoy fresh air and the outdoors.
Carlson and the Cup heading up to the healing garden. @NBC4Sports @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/qHt00b79bj
— Sherree Burruss (@SherreeBurruss) July 4, 2018
Speaking with NBC Sport’s Washington’s Tarik El-Bashir about the experience of taking the Cup to Children’s National — where the Carlsons’ pediatrician is on the board — Carlson said, “It’s great to see the kids faces, any time you can brighten them up. They’re pretty special moments that I know I get a lot from. It’s nice to enjoy it with them and see their faces. It was a pretty cool reception.”
“It was a pretty cool reception.” — John Carlson on bringing the Stanley Cup to @childrenshealth for a visit today. #Caps pic.twitter.com/moRm9iIwvP
— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) July 4, 2018
Of course, Carlson couldn’t leave without fielding a few hard-hitting questions from some of the kids at Children’s National.
Carlson answering the hard hitting questions from the kids! @NBC4Sports @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/N1yigvITzd
— Sherree Burruss (@SherreeBurruss) July 4, 2018
After posing for pics, John Carlson did a group interview with a bunch of kids at @childrenshealth. One of the first questions? Have you lost any teeth playing hockey. 😂 #Caps pic.twitter.com/tgJQGLwdLj
— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) July 4, 2018
Chevy Chase Neighborhood BBQ
Carlson swung by his Chevy Chase neighborhood en-route to the rest of the days activities. He dropped in on a neighbor’s 4th of July celebration, where they all took photographs with the Cup together.
Photos: @Capitals
Journalist and NBC4’s anchor Doreen Gentzler was also in attendance at the party, and, according to her post to Facebook, “had to elbow my husband and daughter out of the way to stand next to #ALLCAPS star John Carlson and the #StanleyCup.”
Defeat DIPG Fundraiser
Carlson’s next stop of the day was a fundraiser for Defeat DIPG of Bethesda Lane. Tickets were made available prior to the event — ranging from $20 general admission, all the way up to $500 for a guaranteed photograph with Carlson and the Cup — and all together raised more than $100,000 for the cause.
DIPG is a form of cancer that affects children almost exclusively, and is always fatal. The money raised by Carlson will go towards raising awareness of DIPG and provid funding for further research into effective treatments.
John Carlson has also taken the Stanley Cup to Bethesda Lane for a fundraiser benefiting @DefeatDIPG. (Hi @granthpaulsen!) pic.twitter.com/zRhb0waS94
— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) July 4, 2018
Raising money to @DefeatDIPG #ALLCAPS @JohnCarlson74 pic.twitter.com/uwmogAavBu
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 4, 2018
Mamma Lucia
There was brief detour to Mamma Lucia’s — which gained renown for providing Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin with his favorite chicken parm meal before home games — where patrons had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of Carlson with the Cup.
Mamma Lucia also provided catering for the Defeat DIPG fundraiser, which included Carlson Fiery Calamari, DSP Soft Shell Crab, the Ovi Special, and Oshie Cannoli.
Of course Mamma Lucia’s is catering Carlson’s fundraiser for @DefeatDIPG. pic.twitter.com/4UkaPNdBcL
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) July 4, 2018
Carlson’s home
Once the fundraiser wrapped up, Carlson took the Cup back to his home, where his youngest son, Rudy, napped next to the coveted trophy.
Salt Line in Navy Yard
From there, the Cup made its way to a private party with Carlson’s friends and family at Salt Line in Navy Yard, its final stop of the night.
So, to recap, @JohnCarlson74 has taken Lord Stanley to: a fire station, a hospital for sick children, a parade in Maryland and a fundraiser benefiting childhood brain tumor research. Carlson’s doing his day with the Cup right.
— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) July 4, 2018
Headline photo: @childrenshealth
