The Washington Capitals invited FCC chairman Brendan Carr to perform the ceremonial puck drop before a game last season. Carr did not reply to the email and appears to have declined the offer.
The invitation was made by Zach Leonsis, president of media and new enterprises for Monumental Sports & Entertainment.
The email was unearthed in a Freedom of Information Act request and lawsuit filed by the advocacy group Democracy Forward and provided to the Guardian as part of Jeremy Barr’s reporting about Carr’s close coordination with the White House and rightwing media.
Barr posted the email to his X account “for a local sports angle”:
Dear Chairman Carr,
Another exciting NHL season is about to begin. On behalf of the Washington Capitals, I am honored to extend an invitation to you to join us for a very special moment at an upcoming game. We would be privileged if you would perform the honorary puck drop prior to a game.
The ceremonial puck drop is one of hockey’s most cherished traditions, symbolizing respect, competition, and community. It would be a great honor to have you take center ice and share this tradition with our players, fans, and the hockey community.
Please let us know if you can join us on any one of these games:
10/14 vs Lightning
10/17 vs Wild
10/19 vs Canucks
10/25 vs Senators
11/15 vs DevilsOur team would be delighted to assist with any arrangements to make your experience smooth and enjoyable.
In addition, we will provide your team with information regarding the cost of the ticket, food, and beverage to comply with ethics regulations.
Thank you for considering this invitation. We sincerely hope you will join us for a great night of hockey.
Sincerely,
Zach Leonsis
The offer, which Carr appears to have declined, came in the midst of Youtube TV and Hulu removing Monumental (among other regional sports networks) from their offerings.
President Trump nominated Carr for FCC chair soon after his election in November 2024. Carr had previously served as commissioner of the same agency under Trump I and Joe Biden. In his new role, Carr has courted controversy, forcing the Chinese corporation ByteDance to divest from TikTok, pushing for government IDs to be attached to every cell phone, seeking to end the free-speech protections of Section 230, and feuding with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
The actual puck dropper for the October 17 game against the Minnesota Wild ended up being a bald eagle named Penny, well received by everyone except Brandon Duhaime.
