ARLINGTON, VA — When close to 100 local children from the United Heroes League arrived for a hockey clinic at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, they had a special guest waiting for them. Tom Wilson surprised participants in the clinic after the Capitals’ practice on Friday, jumping in to help with the clinic.
The United Heroes League helps military families participate in sports, providing free equipment, youth camps, grants, and tickets as well as hosting special events. Since 2019, the organization has partnered with Wilson’s Forty Three’s Friends program to provide Capitals tickets and postgame meet and greets to families.
When Wilson emerged from the locker room during Friday’s clinic, his surprise appearance set off a round of cheers and stick taps from participants.
“It’s always an honor to host these days,” he said afterward. “There’s so many great military families that give so much to our country, to us. It’s just a small part of my day to come out here and hang with the kids and enjoy it. It’s always cool to be able to bond over the game of hockey and just see all the energy and smiles and that’s what makes the sport so great. It’s a lot of fun to be out there and skate around.”
Wilson joined in for a variety of skill stations, whether he was taking shots on a goaltender or offering fist bumps when kids successfully scored a goal. At one point, he stopped to help a player adjust her equipment in a moment he said reminded him of his own childhood.
“A little girl was saying her head was hurting because her helmet was too tight,” he recounted. “And I remember half the time with my skates, I would always go over the glass and say to my dad, ‘Hey, my feet hurt. I’ve got to go take a break or take them off.’ I think he kind of told me to suck it up but she was a tough little girl and got right back out there so it brings back memories to see that stuff happen.”
Even after the group left the ice, Wilson still had plenty of time to talk to the families. One parent of a young coach set up a video chat so the boy’s father could talk to Wilson while stationed overseas in the Middle East.
“That’s pretty special,” he said of the conversation. “You can’t take for granted the pedigree of some of these people, what they give and what they do for this country. It always puts it in perspective for us to see how selfless and how much courage they have, so anytime we can hang with their family and just have a fun day. I know it’s tough sometimes, Dad’s overseas, not at home all the time. So that’s part of the reason why I try and do this and just let all the kids and families know that we have their back and just try and give back a little bit of what they give to us.”
Great moment from after the clinic: Wilson took the time to talk to one of the young coaches' father, who is currently stationed in the Middle East—complete with a family photo. pic.twitter.com/WAKXrlT0hG
— Katie Adler (@katieEadler) January 3, 2025
Now a father himself, Wilson knows what experiences like these mean to families amid years of sacrifice, and he’s all too grateful for the opportunity to brighten their days.
“A lot of families, they come home, their parents have dinner and [they] take it for granted,” he said. “And then some of these kids, some of these families, they don’t get that luxury. Their significant others or their dads, they’re overseas for a long period of time and it puts stress on the families back home here.
“I think it’s important for the community and neighbors, family, and friends just to support them and be there for them as much as we can, because they give so much to us and we wouldn’t be able to come out here and enjoy the game of hockey and just do whatever we want every day if it wasn’t for them.”
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