Before Sunday’s game between the Capitals and Penguins, ex-Cap and current awesome guy Joel Ward returned to Washington, DC to drop the ceremonial puck.
Flanked by Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, Ward, wearing a Black Girl Hockey Club hoodie, was greeted by a standing ovation.
Great to have @JRandalWard42 in the building for tonight's #BlackHistoryMonth puck drop! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/7GdHB3pfDE
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 23, 2020
Before today's Black History Game, #Caps alumnus Joel Ward drops a ceremonial puck between Ovechkin and Crosby. pic.twitter.com/KX86V0Aw09
— Adam Zielonka (@Adam_Zielonka) February 23, 2020
Joel Ward is here to drop the puck before Caps-Pens. He gets a standing ovation from the crowd. pic.twitter.com/CdCLTa8JRv
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) February 23, 2020
Former #Caps forward Joel Ward got a hearty ovation before dropping the ceremonial puck today at Cap One. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Gq1ZMRI2R2
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) February 23, 2020
John Shannon says that Crosby used the puck drop to congratulate Ovechkin on his 700th goal.
On the ceremonial puck drop, you can see Crosby congratulate Ovechkin on his 700th goal. pic.twitter.com/Da6Zig1zsf
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) February 23, 2020
It was one of several events the Caps are doing for Black History Night at Capital One Arena.
Ward played a total of 726 games in his NHL career for the Nashville Predators, Capitals, and San Jose Sharks, scoring 133 goals and 177 assists. He set his career-high during the 2013-14 season in both goals and assists, with 24 and 25 respectively. Ward also scored arguably one of the most important playoff goals in Capitals history — prior to the 2018 Cup win — when he recorded the Game Seven overtime game-winning tally that propelled the Caps past the defending champion Boston Bruins in 2012.
Ward endured racism on social media after scoring the big goal, becoming a national story.
Ward has not played since he finished the 2017-18 season with the San Jose Sharks. In February 2019, Ward said he now considers himself retired.
Your eyes aren’t fooling you. That was indeed former Washington @Capitals hockey star @JRandalWard42 wearing a BGHC hoodie. Representation matters! #bhm #BlackHistoryMonth #CapsPens 🖤 pic.twitter.com/ViqUwmQDSh
— Black Girl Hockey Club (@BlackGirlHockey) February 23, 2020
Black Girl Hockey Club is a non profit organization that “focuses on making hockey more inclusive for Black women, our family, friends and allies.” You can purchase their merchandise at Threadless and sign up for their newsletter.
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps vs Penguins
Headline photo courtesy of @NBCSCapitals
Additional reporting by Donya Abramo
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