This Tuesday, the Washington Capitals and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation will be teaming up to host First Responders Night at Capital One Arena. As part of the event, five dollars from each ticket sold will go towards the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s mission, to support and honor fallen firefighters, their families, and help to prevent line-of-duty deaths and injuries.
But the Capitals organization’s commitment to honoring first responders won’t be limited to just one night.
Thursday morning, first responders from the Arlington County Police Department were invited to attend Capitals practice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, in recognition of all the incredible work that they do.
They also brought a very good dog with them.
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The Washington Times Sport’s Adam Zielonka reported that the first responders were welcomed out onto the ice by the Capitals with stick taps. A very classy move, from a classy team.
Stick taps and a photo op for the first responders here at #Caps practice today. pic.twitter.com/1WwhmzOmg6
— Adam Zielonka (@Adam_Zielonka) January 17, 2019
There was also an opportunity for a few photographs on the ice, to commemorate the day, with that same good dog front and center of the big group shot.
Photo: @ArlingtonVaFD
The Arlington Fire Department also caught Lars Eller and Braden Holtby off the ice for a few solo shots.
Photos: @ArlingtonVaFD
To accompany the pictures, they tweeted, “Thank you to the @Capitals for inviting us, @ArlingtonVaPD and #ArlingtonCountySheriffsOffice to practice today to get a picture with the team for First Responders Night on Tuesday. Always an honor to hang out with the #StanleyCup Champs!”
But a couple of photographs wasn’t the only souvenir that one member of the Arlington Fire Department came away with. While on the ice, Captain Pachas approached Tom Wilson to sign his Halligan Bar, a forced-entry tool, similar to a pry bar, that is often utilized by police and fire fighters.
Photo: @ArlingtonVAFD
Why did Captain Pachas choose Tom Wilson to sign his Halligan Bar? Well, according to the Capitals, it’s because it was nicknamed “Destroyer” after the hard-hitting forward.
Captain Pachas shows off his newly autographed “Destroyer” – a Halligan Bar he nicknamed after @tom_wilso! 👨🚒 pic.twitter.com/2Yxm7zDMVz
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 17, 2019
After practice concluded, the Capitals had a lot of praise for the First Responders that attended practice, and were grateful for their visit.
“It was cool having them out there and meeting a couple of them,” Devante Smith-Pelly said. “Obviously they’ve got a tough job, a very important job, and we’re super grateful for all they do out there in the world.”
John Carlson had praise for the difficult, and often thankless, job that the first responders do. “They all mean a lot to us and our community and everyone, really. It’s a cool thing to have a first responders night. I’m looking forward to catching up, spending some time [with them].”
Carlson was also taken by their fluffiest team member. “Always cool to see the dogs, too,” he added.
Headline photo: @ArlingtonVaPD
