The Washington Capitals unveiled a new specialty jersey Tuesday celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The patriotic sweaters were created in collaboration with Air Force veteran Patrick J. Sargent and Navy veteran Fidel GomezTorres, combining Capitals branding with American imagery.
“Core themes of the jersey design include service, civic authorship and continuity,” says a Capitals release.
The team’s Weagle crest was reworked with a Revolutionary-era printmaking-inspired treatment, while the six stars across the crest and shoulder patches represent the six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
The jersey uses a navy, red, white, and gold “dress blues” color palette inspired by military ceremonial uniforms, while the gold-trimmed numbers and lettering borrow from historic script and insignia.
The shoulder patches feature the Washington Monument alongside the phrase We the People and a Torch of Liberty.
Shoulder patches
The design also incorporates the years 1776 and 2026 to mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The Capitals also published a video promoting the jerseys. “A salute to service and the United States 🇺🇸,” the Capitals wrote on X. “Introducing our specialty jerseys celebrating the 250th Anniversary of America to be auctioned off in benefit of @OurMilitaryKids.”
The jerseys will not be worn on the ice by players during the season, but instead auctioned off by the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation to raise money for Our Military Kids. The locally based, nonprofit organization helps children of deployed service members and veterans recovering from combat-related injuries participate in sports and other extracurricular activities. The Capitals say that money raised through this specific auction will support local families by helping cover the cost of those activities.
The auction — which begins Tuesday, Oct. 6 at noon and runs through Thursday, Oct. 15 at 3 pm — features signed jerseys and pucks from every player, including the Capitals’ Russian captain Alex Ovechkin.
Capitals fans and those interested in potentially bidding can explore the items here.
Here’s more about the jersey artists from the Capitals:
Patrick J. Sargent served for 20 years in the Air Force, including service in Security Forces and in the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard in Washington, D.C. His work explores themes of civic identity, public memory, service and community engagement. He has led workshops and collaborative projects throughout the United States, including with the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Pennsylvania State University, Bryant University, the Maryland Institute College of Art, Washington DC VA Medical Center and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Patrick is also an adjunct faculty member who serves on the George Mason University School of Art Advisory Board, is a member of the Executive Committee of American Legion Post 139 in Arlington, VA, and is a longtime member and officer of Printmakers Inc., a nonprofit community arts organization at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia.
Fidel GomezTorres is a U.S. Navy veteran who served as a Seabee in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He is the founder and executive director of the American Veteran Arts Collective (AVAC), a nonprofit workforce intermediary connecting veterans and military-connected individuals to careers across the arts, culture, and creative economy. His work explores the intersection of civic identity, workforce development, and cultural institutions.
