As part of the Washington Capitals partnership with the PWHPA to host the US stop of the 2021-22 Secret Dream Gap Tour, PWHPA players will participate in a ceremonial puck drop before the Caps take on the Seattle Kraken, Saturday.

Amanda Pelkey (Team Scotiabank), Kristen Richards (Team Sonnet), Sophia Shaver (Team adidas), and Meghan Turner (Team Bauer) will be in attendance and join Caps captain Alex Ovechkin and Kraken captain Mark Giordano at center ice.

Tomorrow night @PWHPA athletes Amanda Pelkey, Kristen Richards, Sophia Shaver and Meghan Turner will participate in a ceremonial puck drop for #CapsKraken.

The Capitals PWHPA Showcase begins tonight. https://t.co/JLnXuiTowP

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 4, 2022

The Capitals PWHPA Showcase begins this evening as Team Bauer takes on Team Sonnet.

The two collaborators will also present three clinics for local players, featuring instruction by PWHPA athletes and coaches and the Capitals youth hockey development staff. Those clinics began Thursday with youth players.

The partnership with the Caps is the sixth time the PWHPA has partnered with an NHL team for a Secret Dream Gap Tour in the last two seasons and the second time during the 2021-22 season.

Here’s the Capitals’ full press release:

PWHPA Players to Participate in Ceremonial Puck Drop During March 5 Capitals Game vs. Seattle Kraken

2021-22 Secret Dream Gap Tour Taking Place at MedStar Capitals Iceplex March 4-6

Arlington, Va. – Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association athletes Amanda Pelkey (Team Scotiabank), Kristen Richards (Team Sonnet), Sophia Shaver (Team adidas), and Meghan Turner (Team Bauer) will participate in a ceremonial puck drop prior to the Saturday, March 5 Washington Capitals game vs. the Seattle Kraken at Capital One Arena. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and Seattle Kraken captain Mark Giordano will participate in the puck drop.

In partnership with the Washington Capitals, the PWHPA will play four games of the 2021-2022 Secret Dream Gap Tour at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va., from March 4-6 as part of the Capitals PWHPA Showcase presented by Leidos and Thundercat Technology. In addition, the Capitals and PWHPA will present three clinics for local players, featuring instruction by PWHPA athletes and coaches and the Capitals youth hockey development staff, from March 3-5. The event features Team adidas (Minnesota), Team Bauer (Boston), Team Scotiabank (Calgary) and Team Sonnet (Toronto).

Winners of the games on March 4 and 5 will meet in the Showcase Final game at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, while the remaining two teams will square off in the Showcase Consolation game at 10:30 a.m. All four teams are vying to take home the fourth weekend prize pot of this PWHPA season. Game 1 and Game 2 will be announced by Natanya Levioff, public address announcer for the United States Naval Academy. Game 3 and Game 4 will be announced by Adrienne Roberson, public address announcer for Major League Baseball’s Baltimore Orioles.

Comprised of approximately 125 of the world’s best hockey players, the PWHPA was formed to advocate for— and advance— equity, fairness and opportunity in women’s professional hockey. Specifically, the group’s goal is to create a sustainable league that pays a living wage to players, provides appropriate elite-level resources (i.e. ice time, facilities, trainers, etc.) and invests in marketing that showcases the players and game.

In addition to the showcase, the Capitals and PWHPA are offering three clinics at MedStar Capitals Iceplex for local players. PWHPA athletes and coaches, and the Capitals youth hockey development staff will lead on- and off-ice sessions for a March 3 youth clinic, a March 4 adult clinic and a March 5 clinic for elite players ages 13 and above. The adult clinic will feature a Q&A with Hefford and PWHPA players about the PWHPA, as well as the women’s hockey landscape. The elite player clinic will feature an on-ice session followed by an off-ice chalk talk with PWHPA and Capitals representatives.

A complete schedule and ticketing information are available at washcaps.com/PWHPA.

Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong/RMNB