Keelan Moxley melted our hearts during the Capitals’ Stanley Cup run. Friday, the adorable seven-year-old returned to Capital One Arena to participate as a mite-on-ice.
“She obviously had a great time but was really nervous to skate on the same ice as the Caps,” Keelan’s dad Andrew Moxley told me.
Keelan first gained fame during Game Two of the Capitals’ first-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In a viral video, Capitals forward Brett Connolly tried, tried, and tried again to get a warmup puck to Keelan. Connolly became infuriated as a parent gave the pucks he intended to Keelan to two other boys.
Video
Eventually, Connolly succeeded and Keelan could be seen jumping for joy along the glass.
During Game Five, Keelan was invited back to the arena where she met Brett Connolly after the game. Connolly gave Keelan a stick that read “Follow Your Dreams.”
Keelan even got to go to the Stanley Cup Finals. The tiny hockey-player was caught by cameras wildly celebrating after Connolly scored during Game Four.
Friday’s interaction brought Keelan over the boards and onto the ice to skate on the same sheet her favorite players play on.
Keelan, who is on the Bowie Hockey Club team located in Prince George’s County, Maryland, wore white and rocked the number eight. She had pink laces.
Keelan was even captured by NBC Sports Washington cameras during intermission.
This is very good form. 👌
After the game, the group of mites took a team photo with Capitals legend Peter Bondra.
Keelan cheesed for the camera.
“She had such a blast,” dad said.
