Leading up to the Capitals banner-raising ceremony on October 3, we’ll be sharing content from the summer that we never got around to publishing. This series is entitled Stanley Cup stories.
Three days after the Capitals won their first Stanley Cup, the team was honored at Nationals Park. That day, a beardy Alex Ovechkin threw out the ceremonial first pitch (which eventually turned into a second pitch) and the team took a photo on the field with the Stanley Cup and Nationals players. Eventually, the
Caps lumbered their way up to a private suite, where they drank some beers, danced, and took turns holding up the NHL’s championship trophy.
By the end of the game, a throng of Caps fans made their way up to the entrance of the suite level, hoping they’d get a glimpse of the Stanley Cup or a player filing out of the stadium.
Instead, they got something even better: a sweaty bear hug from one of the greatest hockey players of all-time.
Video
As you can see, event security and police were having none of this, but Ovi wanted a hug so he got his hug. The video was taken by longtime reader Lotta Danielsson, who was in the right place at the right time.
Minutes earlier, TJ Oshie and Shane Gersich, brothers from their different times at the University of North Dakota, walked out with the Stanley Cup too and posed for photos. Oshie even came back for an encore as the two players took in the fans’ adoration.
Photos: Cara Bahniuk
This moment in time captures the players’ moods before their iconic party at the Georgetown Waterfront, where they did Cup stands and swam in the fountains.
This team.
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