Vitek Vanecek

Here’s how the Capitals are spending Labor Day weekend

A significant portion of the Washington Capitals roster has returned to DC over the last few weeks to participate in informal practices at MedStar Capitals Iceplex leading up to the first day of Training Camp on September 12.

But many of these players, and some who still remain at home, are using the Labor Day holiday weekend to do one final trip with their loved ones before the start of the season.

Here’s what your favorite players (and PA announcer) are up to!

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By Ian Oland 2 weeks ago

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Jakub Vrana becomes latest star player to return to DC for informal skates

Jake the 🐍 is back!

Wednesday afternoon, Vitek Vanecek posted to his Instagram Story showing that both he and his close friend Jakub Vrana are back in DC. Vrana will soon join star players like Braden Holtby, TJ Oshie, John Carlson, Nicklas Backstrom, and Evgeny Kuznetsov who have been participating in informal skates at MedStar Capitals Iceplex over the last few weeks.

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By Ian Oland 3 weeks ago

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Vitek Vanecek explains his friendly rivalry with Ilya Samsonov in Hershey

2018-19 AHL All-Star Vitek Vanecek hasn’t received much buzz to be the Capitals goaltender of the future despite strong play in the minor leagues. The reason is due to 2015 first-round pick Ilya Samsonov, the team’s top prospect, who is considered one of the best goalies not in the NHL.

Despite the rivalry, the two goaltenders — one Czech and the other Russian — formed an unlikely and close friendship with the AHL’s Hershey Bears last season. The two call each other “Boss” and “Big Boss” in Russian and earlier in the season Samsonov credited Vanecek as one of the people he is closest with on the team. Vanecek recently described their relationship as “great.”

“We help each other,” Vanecek said in an interview posted by isport.cz and translated by Alexandra Petáková. “When we’re in the goal, we always want to win. We’ve never argued once.

“He even invited me to his wedding, but unfortunately, I couldn’t make it,” Vanecek added. “Ilya’s English isn’t very good yet, so I tried to help him in America. We talk to each other in Czech and Russian. We curse too, I know some bad words in Russian now.”

But that doesn’t there aren’t hard moments and an intense, friendly competition going on.

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By Ian Oland 1 month ago

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Alex Ovechkin once hit Vitek Vanecek in the mask with a one-timer and the goalie ‘couldn’t chew for the rest of the day’

Washington Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek is currently attending a training camp in Jihlava, Czech Republic with the Czech national team. The other goalies attending the sessions include David Rittich (Calgary), Jakub Škarek (Islanders prospect), and Daniel Vladař (Bruins prospect).

While there, Vanecek did an interview with the Czech newspaper Právo (which was reposted by sport.cz) and revealed what it was like joining the Capitals as the team’s third goalie for a small part of their 2019 playoff run. He also shared a funny story regarding future Hall of Famer Alex Ovechkin.

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By Ian Oland 1 month ago

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Capitals re-sign Vitek Vanecek to three-year, $2.15 million contract

On a day where the Capitals have been shoring up their bottom-six forwards with new signings Richard Panik, Garnet Hathaway, and Brendan Leipsic, general manager Brian MacLellan also secured depth in goal for the Capitals and for Hershey.

Capitals announced on Monday that goaltender Vitek Vanecek has signed a three-year, $2.15 million contract with the Capitals, the first year being two-way, while the final two years will be one-way with the Capitals.

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By Elizabeth Kong 3 months ago

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Jakub Vrana and Vitek Vanecek are reunited and it feels so good

The Czech… 😎… mates, V & V, are back together. (No, I’m not apologizing for that pun.)

Monday, Jakub Vrana and Vitek Vanecek both posted videos of each to their respective Instagram Stories announcing they were hanging out likely in their native Czech Republic.

We’ll explain why this is a very significant development in a minute.

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By Ian Oland 3 months ago

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DSP’s back! Capitals recall Devante Smith-Pelly from Hershey ahead of Game Five

The Washington Capitals lost TJ Oshie to injury, likely longterm, after getting boarded in the third period of Game Four.

Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan has responded by calling up Devante Smith-Pelly from the Hershey Bears. DSP had 14 points in 20 games with the Bears after being sent down in February. The forward tallied a hat trick in March against the Hartford Wolf Pack.

In a corresponding move, the Capitals sent down goaltender Vitek Vanecek.

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By Ian Oland 5 months ago

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Capitals recall Vitek Vanecek, return Ilya Samsonov to Hershey in time for playoffs

The Capitals announced on Sunday morning that they have recalled goaltender Vitek Vanecek from the AHL’s Hershey Bears and have re-assigned Ilya Samsonov to the Bears.

The move allows the Caps to keep three goaltenders available while also letting Samsonov return to the Bears to prepare for the AHL playoffs. The Bears will play the final game of their regular season on Sunday night before facing off against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday.

Vanecek will travel with the Capitals to Raleigh for Game Three on Monday evening. This is Vanecek’s first call-up to the Capitals.

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By Elizabeth Kong 5 months ago

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Ilya Samsonov crashes Vitek Vancek’s postgame press conference to ask him a question

Vitek Vanecek posted his second shutout of the season on Tuesday night, in the Hershey Bears’ 1-0 win over their rival, the WBS Penguins. But the Hershey backup goaltender had to face one more shot in his postgame press conference: a question from New York Post reporter….Ilya Samsonov?

Samsonov trolled Vanecek by pretending to be a member of the media.

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By Elizabeth Kong 6 months ago

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Hershey Bears tie 76-year-old franchise record with points in 15 straight games

After starting the season with seven consecutive losses in October and sitting near the bottom of the standings, the Hershey Bears have turned their season around dramatically.

The Bears have rattled off a 9-0-0-1 record in their last 10 games, and have tallied points in 15 straight games, tying a 76-year-old franchise record. Let me repeat: a SEVENTY SIX YEAR-OLD-RECORD.

The last time Hershey had points in 15 straight games was during the 1942-1943 season.

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By Julia Karron and Donya Abramo 7 months ago

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