Friday was #NationalPuppyDay and the Hershey Bears celebrated the holiday the best way possible.
The Bears posted a video of its players holding, hugging, and kissing tiny puppies from Susquehana Service Dogs.
“We had the BEST DAY EVER with our friends from @SSDOGS,” the Bears wrote on Twitter.
Here are my 11 favorite stills.
The Capitals took a stumble into the holiday break after back-to-back road losses against the Arizona Coyotes and Vegas Golden Knights. But it looks like the boys still had a relaxing break with friends and family. Here’s what your faves of the past, present, and future Caps were up to this break.
The Hershey Bears lost to the Toronto Marlies Saturday night, but there was one good moment.
Bears captain Garrett Mitchell scored his second goal of the season.
Beyond not scoring, Garrett Mitchell’s NHL debut could not been scripted any better.
Mitchy was given the rookie treatment during warmups, started the game, and, due to a heartwarming gesture by Nicklas Backstrom, got to take the opening faceoff.
The best part was that all of Mitchell’s immediate family was there to see it all. That included his two parents (Glynn and Linda), his wife (Talita), and his two children (Lyla and Lakelyn).
After the game, Mitchell’s family even got the opportunity to get a jersey off one of the players’ backs. They “randomly” drew Garrett’s.
I didn’t think we would be writing five posts about Garrett Mitchell today, but here we are. In the morning, we found out that the popular veteran would make his NHL debut during the Capitals’ final game of the season. The 25-year-old forward spoke about his dream coming true pregame with reporters. Later, the Hershey Bears released video of the emotional moment when Mitchell first found out about his call up. During warmups, the Caps gave Mitchell the rookie treatment. And now this.
To open the game, Mitchell started on the first line with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. Jaromir Jagr was also on the ice for the Panthers. In an incredibly gracious gesture, Nicklas Backstrom intentionally got kicked out of the faceoff — might I add in rather ridiculous fashion — so that Garrett could take it.
This will never get old.
Before puck drop of the Caps-Panthers game, Garrett Mitchell received the rookie treatment. Mitchell walked out for warmups first and did a solo lap around the ice before he was joined by the rest of his Caps teammates.
Garrett Mitchell is set to play in his NHL debut tonight. Minutes ahead of puck drop between the Caps and Panthers, the Hershey Bears shared video of the moment when Mitchell first learned of his call-up.
Warning: this is emotional.
Hershey Bears captain Garrett Mitchell just met with the media ahead of the Capitals’ final game of the regular season – an Eastern Conference matchup against the Florida Panthers. Mitchell had a huge smile.
That’s because the 25-year-old forward will make his NHL debut tonight – a moment he admittedly doubted would ever happen.
“It’s one of those things,” Mitchell said. “I am only 25, but with that being said, every year there’s always kids being drafted. Every year, there’s a first-round pick, a second-round pick. For myself as a sixth-round pick, it’s something I’ve dreamed about.”
2,843 days ago, Mitchell was selected by the Capitals 157th overall during the the 2009 draft. After a hot start to his career was later derailed by a major shoulder injury, Mitchell has fought his way onto the league’s best team to officially become an NHL player, likely for one night only.
Sunday morning the Capitals announced that they have recalled forwards Chandler Stephenson and Garret Mitchell from their AHL affiliate Hershey Bears.
This is Garrett Mitchell’s first NHL promotion. After being drafted by the Caps in 2009, he has spent his professional career exclusively in Hershey, playing in 352 games with the Bears and captaining the team the last two seasons. He is expected to make his NHL debut tonight when the Caps host the Panthers in their regular season finale at Verizon Center.
Pumped for Garrett Mitchell. Hershey’s captain has seen a lot of teammates recalled to D.C. the last 6 seasons. Today, the call was for him.
— John Walton (@WaltonCaps) April 9, 2017
Hershey Bears captain and forward Garrett Mitchell (10 goals, 9 assists) and wife Talita (2 babies, 2 daughters) have welcomed their second daughter to the world, little Lakelyn Braz (8 pounds, 3 ounces).
In the photo above, Michell (upper left) poses with Mitchell (lower right) as she hatches an evil baby scheme. The Bears report that mommy and baby are doing well. Congrats to the whole family!
