WASHINGTON, DC — The Washington Capitals brought together their current 2024-25 team, over 70 alumni, the Stanley Cup, and one of the most famous rock bands from the ’90s for a special, heartfelt event at Capital One Arena, Thursday night.
To celebrate the team’s 50th anniversary season, the organization held Caps 50 Fest at their home barn two days before their Home Opener against the New Jersey Devils. TikTok was the title sponsor. Tickets for the event celebrated the Capitals’ founding: $19.74.
The concourse was decorated seemingly from wall to ceiling with anniversary decorations. There were photo stations, live art, a memory wall, and a new special 50th anniversary display that featured replica trophies, jerseys, and historic Capitals-used gear. The team also sold new merch in their team store, including the team’s black Screaming Eagle third jerseys.
But it was when you walked in and saw the floor of the arena where the specialness of the night really hit you. Every chair in the lower bowl had a Caps 50 t-shirt and the Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup championship banner was lowered for photos. There were two large Capitals’ stars on the floor that operated as a walkway. Then, there was a concert stage specially designed for the event, highlighted by a large neon number 50. Every detail was considered from the lights to the signage.
The event began with Ted Leonsis welcoming up the team’s original season ticket holders from the mid-70s and presenting a $500,000 check to a host of nonprofits near and dear to him including the American Special Hockey Association, T.A.P.S., and Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic.
Monumental Sports Network play-by-play announcer, Joe Beninati, then took the stage as the emcee of the evening to host several roundtable discussions. Capitals PA announcer Wes Johnson also gave every current and former Capitals player a memorable introduction.
The Capitals’ current team took the stage first answering questions about their excitement for the new year. Both Nicklas Backstrom and TJ Oshie, two legends on long term injured reserve whose careers may both be over, joined the team in Capitals jerseys, rocking their beloved numbers 19 and 77.
“I’m always saying like, it’s not only me,” Ovechkin said of his unrivaled goal-scoring success in a Capitals uniform. “It’s everybody who play with me, coaching staff, trainers, obviously Backy – he’s the guy who gave me all those passes, all those assists. Without my team, without love from you guys, love from ownership – I would never reach that kind of milestone.”
After taking a group photo on stage, the current Caps walked off and alumni from different eras were introduced, including some of the franchise’s biggest legends like Rod Langway (HHOF), Ron Weber (HHOF), Olie Kolzig, Peter Bondra, Dennis Maruk, Calle Johansson, and John Druce. Other notable former Caps like Dmitri Khristich, John Erskine, Kevin “Killer” Kaminski, Mike Knuble, and Troy Brouwer got loud ovations from the crowd.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Troy Brouwer said. “I’ll be honest with you, when I first got approached to do this back in April or May, I wasn’t quite sure if I was going to do it because it’s a long way to come and kids are in school and stuff like that. The more that we thought about it, talking to the guys that were going to be here, it was just an opportunity that we couldn’t resist as a family. So me and my wife and my two kids, we decided to come here. We wanted to see the city, we wanted to see the team, we wanted to see the guys on the team. And we thought it would just be a great opportunity to come back and reconnect with the city and an organization that was so good and helpful to our family.”
Brouwer added, “talking to the guys, we’ve already been sitting down there having a blast, telling some stories. And when you tell stories, those memories come up. And then you think of more stories, and all of a sudden the wives are like, ‘We’ve got to go do something.’ And you’re like, ‘Nah, I’m telling stories.'”
Exciting few days ahead of us as @Capitals kick off their 50th season in the @NHL ! Great to be around the guys. Thanks to all WSH Capitals alumni for coming into town and celebrating this milestone. pic.twitter.com/FJGzLy0wtQ
— Peter Bondra (@PeterBondra12) October 11, 2024
During a Stanley Cup champions roundtable, Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, TJ Oshie, Braden Holtby, Jakub Vrana, Tom Wilson, Brooks Orpik, and Devante Smith-Pelly were joined on stage by the Stanley Cup and the HHOF’s championship trophy handler, Phil Pritchard. And it was fun. A bashful Smith-Pelly got a deafening ovation from the crowd. Oshie talked about his special Mario Kart tattoo and even teased his world-famous Chug. The group remembered back to big moments about that run.
Ovechkin relayed a story that some of his memories from the Capitals’ triumphant night in Vegas, Game 5 of the finals, are blurry due to him blacking out on the ice due to his sheer excitement and happiness.
The players called that year’s team special and a family. The closeness propelled them to finally get across the finish line after so many heartbreaks in the years before.
“It’s hard, but it’s a lot of fun,” Wilson said of the team’s championship run. “You’re with your best buddies on an absolute grind trying to accomplish all of our dreams. I think every game, we go out there and we try and wear out the other team and make their lives as difficult as possible, to put it politely. But, that takes a toll on your body as well. I didn’t think too much of it during the run because you’re just having so much fun with your buddies and chasing our dream. It’s the hardest trophy I think to win in sports. I don’t think we felt the bumps and bruises when we were partying at the end of it all.”
Arguably the best moment of the night was when the Capitals had the nine Cup champion players re-watch the highlight video they created after the victory set to Mumford & Sons I Will Wait. The players were entranced by the video, looking up with smiles. Their faces noticeably filled up with emotion.
Once the talk was concluded, Pritchard positioned the Cup in front of the stage and the players took a photo together.
Just incredible to be here for this moment
📸: @ianoland pic.twitter.com/dnR8Q7iVHT
— RMNB (@rmnb) October 11, 2024
As the Caps were about to walk off stage, someone whispered into Vrana’s ear and the Czech forward, who returned to the team this season, flossed in front of the crowd, garnering laughs and loud cheers.
Third Eye Blind, featuring lead singer Stephan Jenkins, took the stage minutes later. The band had arguably two of the biggest rock hits of the ’90s with Semi-Charmed Life and Jumper.
Nearly an estimated 7,500 fans could be seen holding glow sticks and swaying to the music. Capitals alumni sat up in the club level and enjoyed the show with their families.
Before Caps 50 Fest began, the band met with the players at a reception out on the Wizards practice court. The players presented TEB with customized jerseys.
Let's rock, babes!#ALLCAPS | @tiktok_us pic.twitter.com/HZbRdhMujU
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 11, 2024
Bassist Alex LeCavalier, a huge hockey fan, was the most excited as he had Alex Ovechkin sign the back of his jersey.
Had to give @ThirdEyeBlind a proper #ALLCAPS welcome pic.twitter.com/G0XeTUfhyW
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 11, 2024
“I think it’s cool to blend the different ages,” Karl Alzner said. “But the second that I walked in there and saw all the guys from teams that I played on, it just felt different. The stories instantly start and you’re able to talk to them a little differently than you would a guy that you didn’t play with that’s older than you. So yeah, it’s been really great.
“I think it’s amazing that 70 people came out for this. That’s wild. All the stuff that they built on the stage. I know that makes a lot of guys feel pretty special. It’s been great.”
Or as ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski put it, “the greatest ‘remembering some guys’ event I’ve ever been to in the NHL.”
Below are my photos from the event, including a few submitted by RMNB readers.
Photos
Special note: I want to extend a humbling thank you to everyone that said hi or asked for photos. We are grateful.<3
