In December, Peter Bondra surprised UAE hockey player Fatima Al Ali with a free trip to Washington in honor of her unreal stickhandling skills. Fatima arrived in DC this past Sunday, and on Monday night, she sat courtside as the Wizards and Cavaliers went back and forth in the most entertaining regular-season basketball game of the season. Tuesday, her dream trip continued as she went to her first Caps game and met her favorite player, Alex Ovechkin, in the locker room.
Wednesday, things got even better. In front of a large throng of local and national media, Fatima took the ice with the team after Capitals practice.
Fatima first arrived around 11:30am.
Reporting for practice! @FatimaAl_Ali taking in the @Capitals locker room. 😮 pic.twitter.com/GoP07rI9Pg
— MonumentalSportsNet (@MonSportsNet) February 8, 2017
Peter Bondra presented Fatima with her very own third jersey, with the number seven and her last name Al Ali stitched on the back.
#Caps alum @PeterBondra12 presents Fatima Al Ali with a jersey prior to Fatima joining the team on ice pic.twitter.com/SXiRlgZYrQ
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 8, 2017
Fatima selected a TJ Oshie Bauer twig from the stick rack.
Who's twig to use today? @ovi8? @JustinWilliams? @TJOshie77? @FatimaAl_Ali goes with T.J.'s! pic.twitter.com/jUYei5Rf6T
— MonumentalSportsNet (@MonSportsNet) February 8, 2017
Fatima’s brother Mohamed also joined her on the trip.
Fatima and her brother Mohamed are taking in today's #Caps practice from the bench. pic.twitter.com/Cr6PgV1XAN
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 8, 2017
When Fatima first jumped on the Caps practice sheet, she got loud stick taps from all the players.
Stick tap from #Caps and handshake from Trotz as Fatima goes on the ice pic.twitter.com/bz1waYW2pr
— Jill Sorenson (@JillCSN) February 8, 2017
Stick taps for Fatima as she takes the ice with Ovi and the #Caps! pic.twitter.com/pp6tkfcuiW
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 8, 2017
Fatima demonstrated her picking up the puck trick to Tom Wilson, while Ovi failed to do it beside of her.
Fatima demonstrating her picking up the puck trick and not even Ovi can do it #Caps pic.twitter.com/zoIem6JKCz
— Jill Sorenson (@JillCSN) February 8, 2017
She took one-timers from Ovechkin.
Fatima shoots and scores at #Caps practice! pic.twitter.com/ztKqCAkJCU
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 8, 2017
Fatima and Kuznetsov also puck juggled.
Stick Skills! @FatimaAl_Ali and @Kuzya92 having some fun. #CapsHIFE pic.twitter.com/PLl7LYpDCr
— MonumentalSportsNet (@MonSportsNet) February 8, 2017
At the end of practice, Alex Ovechkin gave Fatima his game-used stick. Just like last night, she freaked out.
Photo: @CapitalsPR
Photo: @MonSportsNet
Photo: @CapitalsPR
Photo: @MonSportsNet
Photo: @CapitalsPR
On Thursday, Feb. 9, Al Ali will watch warmups from the Capitals bench and participate in a ceremonial puck drop prior to the Capitals game versus the Detroit Red Wings.
Hockey is for everyone, you guys.
Headline photo: @CapitalsPR
