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Devante Smith-Pelly on the best part of the Capitals’ championship parade

By Ian Oland

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February 25, 2023 12:36 pm

Devante Smith-Pelly is back in Washington DC for the first time since leaving the Capitals after the 2018-19 season. Smith-Pelly will drop the ceremonial first puck during the team’s Black History celebration against the New York Rangers at 1 pm.

Smith-Pelly will always be celebrated in these parts due to his incredible and clutch performance during the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, which earned him the distinction of “unlikely hero” from Wayne Gretzky.

DSP scored seven goals in those 24 playoff games – including the game-tying goal in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final – which helped give the Capitals their first championship.

When speaking to the media, DSP was asked about that run and what made it most special. For DSP, it wasn’t the goals on the ice – though of course, that was amazing. It was what he saw on top of the double-decker bus during the team’s championship parade.

“[The Stanley Cup] means a lot,” Smith-Pelly said on Friday during Capitals practice. “Obviously, winning is special but winning in this area with this demographic and stuff is huge. If you saw the parade, a whole different bunch of people – black kids, black parents, stuff like that – which to me is important. I think it’s important in growing the game, and getting new people involved.

“I think in a couple years, 10 years, 15 years, you’re going to see kids that were at that parade playing professional hockey and stuff like that. It’s exciting. That’s what it’s all about.”

Smith-Pelly, who chose to wear a WWE championship belt and a silly Andre Burakovsky hat (Old School homage) during the parade, took photos with fans and flashed a huge smile on his face almost the entire time he intermingled with fans.

WUSA did a feature on DSP explaining how he was opening doors for Black fans and youth hockey players around the area.

“There are African Americans that play hockey, that love hockey, love sports,” one fan says in the feature.

“We see you, it makes a hell of a difference,” says another. “It also opens the door to let young Black African Americans know that, ‘Hey, I can do this.’ Keep doing what you’re doing, man. I look up to you.”

Fast forward nearly five years later, DSP has retired, but his impact is still felt in this area. One of those players he likely impacted was 10-year-old Keivonn Woodard, a talented youth hockey player from Maryland who plays for Bowie Hockey Club.

When Smith-Pelly is introduced to Caps faithful on Saturday, he’s expected to get a huge ovation.

“It’s good,” DSP said of the team’s celebration of its Black history. “It shows that they obviously care. Having 11 [Black] guys play for the same organization is significant. I appreciate it. I appreciate how they handled my situation when I was here and stuff like that. I appreciate how they handled Wardo’s and all that stuff. It’s definitely something that doesn’t go unnoticed. I appreciate them for that.”

Headline photo: Alan Dobbins/RMNB