From becoming Eastern Conference Champions to winning the Stanley Cup, we’ve highlighted the big anniversary moments of the Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup run including the epic fountain swimming and partying.
One year ago today, nearly a million Capitals fans gathered in the streets of Washington DC to witness the Capitals Championship Parade.
It’s a day I’ll never, ever forget. I’ll tell you my story.
Full Stanley Cup Champions Celebration
The night before the parade, I drove down from Frederick to DC to sleep on an inflatable mattress in Goat’s house. Yes, that Goat. Knowing that a couple hundred thousand people around the DMV would be traveling down to DC to witness this magical moment in Capitals history made me pretty nervous I would be stuck in traffic all day and miss literally everything. I didn’t! Thanks for your graciousness, Goat and Jill!
The first part of my day started as media at Capital One Arena around 8 AM where Capitals players, management, and ownership were scheduled to take their team photo on the ice. Philip Pritchard brought out the Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe Trophy, and the Prince of Wales Trophy and put it on the ice in front of all the chairs. And then the giggling players made their way out.
Picture day with the new hardware #StanleyCup #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Z6Idu45qK4
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 12, 2018
There was something about watching Ted Leonsis hug Alex Ovechkin, especially after seeing Ted draft Ovi over a decade earlier, and hold the Stanley Cup together that felt historic and full circle to me.
After I chatted with some of the team’s family, I helped a DC Police Officer take a photo in front of the Stanley Cup.
“Do you want to take a picture with it?” he said, not knowing I had ever seen the Stanley Cup before and had waited my entire life to do so.
I was stunned. I said bashfully, “If it’s okay with everyone else…”
He said, “Of course!” And who am I to not listen to a police officer?
After the team photo ended, the Capitals went back into the locker room where beers were likely consumed by all.
Hey @WWE and @TripleH – thanks for the Title Belt for the Championship Parade!! #ALLCAPS #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/Z6yR73rxDX
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 12, 2018
Video: @smithpelly
I walked over to the parade. I noticed that the only way to get to the media risers at the National Mall was to walk in the street on Constitution Avenue as thousands of fans looked on from the guardrails. People noticed me. They asked me to take selfies. I ended up high-fiving people down entire city blocks. It was surreal. I wanted to cry. This is not the reception I get in the basement. (Usually, it’s Gigi rubbing her tail against me letting me know she’s there and that she is very deserving of 10 Temptations treats.)
And then the parade started! Here’s some of our coverage from that day.
- Reliving the best moments of the Capitals Championship parade and rally
- Relive the Capitals Stanley Cup parade and team picture (Photos)
- Watch the Championship parade and rally from the Capitals’ perspective
- Alex Ovechkin took over the police radio during the Caps Stanley Cup Parade
- Alex Ovechkin repeats season mantra at Caps rally: ‘We’re not going to be f$%*ing suck this year’
- I also wrote about the parade in a year end column.
As the Capitals slowly made their way to the National Mall, I did an interview on NBC4 with Lindsay Czarniak and the legend Doreen Gentzler.
A few observations.
- I get really nervous before media appearances so I packed a blazer in my bag to wear during the NBC4 interview. I have this horrible fear of letting people down: my family, my friends, the writers on RMNB, Peter, my mom who reads and watches everything I do, my coworkers, and readers – many who have no idea who I am or any of us are. I felt so nervous in the pit of my stomach. So I put that blazer on in the full sun and 100-degree temperatures and acted like I knew what I was doing. I might have been sweltering, but if I died, I would have looked semi-professional.
- There were so many signs, so many RMNB shirts.
- Nathan, Ryan, and Cara held up RMNB flags near the front of the stage. Beyond the incredible marketing and branding, it was great to see Ovi’s mantra – We’re Not Going To Be Suck This Year – flying near the stage in triumph.
- There were so many Caps fans on the National Mall, it felt like a Presidential Inauguration (that wasn’t Trump’s).
- My face was so sunburned. I didn’t care.
Now excuse me while I point out that Horn Guy and Goat walked in the parade, which was so so well deserved.
Eventually, the celebration made its way onto the stage in front of the Capitol Building. It was epic.
Full player introductions
TJ Oshie’s beer chug
TJ Oshie’s Back-To-Back chant
Nicklas Backstrom: Now we play hockey like we party
Evgeny Kuznetsov, LET’S F-CK THIS SH-T
Alex Ovechkin’s speech
And of course, Ovechkin concluded the parade and really, the championship season, with this final quote.
“And one last thing. Before the year, I say ‘We’re not going to be f$%*ing suck this year.’ We’re the Stanley Cup champions. YEAHHHHHHHH. WOOOOOOOOOO! YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! It’s yours boys and girls and babes, let’s go!” And then Mumford and Sons’ “I Will Wait” blared over the loudspeaker. Yeah, that’s perfect.
I swear Ovi looked at the RMNB flag before saying this.
Afterward, we hosted a party at the Arlington Rooftop and Grill. Hundreds of people came out. We sang “We Are The Champions”, drank champagne, and got even more sunburned.
What a day.
The thing is, my experience is my experience and there’s hundreds of thousands of other perspectives and experiences that were just as or even more special than mine. Some people got to celebrate with their families. Others got to hug their favorite player. It’s the fact that we invested all that time into the team, for some over 40 years’ worth, to finally experience this day, this moment, together.
I remember being made fun of for being a Capitals fan and a hockey fan when I was a kid. To be a part of this day with nearly a million other people, some of which our site helped cultivate into huge Caps fans (I say this because I’m told this personally all the time), was just so special.
Now, we must, I guess, move on… somewhat. 🙂 Today marks the final day the Capitals will be reigning champions as Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Final will be played tonight between the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins.
This last year was a dream. Thanks for being a part of it. Share your favorite memories below.
Headline photo: @capitals
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