Washington Capitals fans, if you want to catch a glimpse of the future of the team and happen to live around the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, here’s your chance.
A summer tradition that typically occurs after the draft, the Washington Capitals have held this event at their state of the art practice facility MedStar Capitals Iceplex, formerly Kettler, ever since the building opened in the fall of 2006.
This facility, located atop a parking garage adjacent to the Ballston Mall and is easily accessible by either car or train with a Ballston orange/silver line stop about under a block away.
The Capitals released their developmental camp schedule Monday afternoon. The camp starts on June 25 and ends June 29. All events are free and open to the public.
This is the 13th straight year the Capitals have had this event. It is designed to help the young players develop their skills and helps the coaches and front office to know what they should do with the players by keeping them in juniors, college, or preparing the players to join the Hershey Bears.
"The Washington Capitals will host their 2019 Prospect Development Camp from June 25 to June 29, 2019 at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. All on-ice sessions are free and open to the public.Capitals development camp is an annual, week-long summer session with on- and off-ice workouts designed to help Capitals prospects improve their games and allow the Capitals to evaluate their progress. This is the 13th consecutive year that the camp is being held at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. Past development camps have been held in Odenton, Md., and Hershey, Pa.Attendees include Capitals prospects who are under contract and recent Capitals draft picks who have not been signed yet. In addition, several undrafted and free agent amateur players will be in attendance.The Washington Capitals Alumni Association will host an Alumni Summer Classic Game on Tuesday, June 25, at 7 p.m. at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. The event is free and open to the general public and will be streamed live on MonumentalSportsNetwork.comDevelopment camp participants will host a free on-ice clinic for 100 U-10 hockey players at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Wednesday, June 26, at 5 p.m.Capitals development camp will conclude on Saturday with an intrasquad scrimmage at 10 a.m. The game will be streamed live on MonumentalSportsNetwork.com."
Like the most of us we are all excited to see Connor McMichael play for the first time in his Capitals Jersey. It might be a two year wait until he’s officially on the main squad, but it is a sneak peak of the future of the team. This event is a key impact for these young players to grow hearing stories about how players like John Carlson, Jakub Vrana and Braden Holtby came into the same camp and found there way to become stars of the NHL.
The full schedule is listed below (via CapitalsToday.com)
Monday
Medical & off-ice testing
Tuesday, June 25
9 a.m.: On ice (Public rink)
9 a.m.: On ice (Capitals rink)
2:45 p.m.: Goalies on ice (Capitals rink)
3:15 p.m.: All players on ice (Capitals rink)
4:30 p.m.: Media availability
7 p.m.: Washington Capitals Alumni Summer Classic, MedStar Capitals Iceplex (streamed live on Monumental Sports Network)
Wednesday, June 26
10:15 a.m.: On-ice testing (Public rink)
10:45 a.m.: Goalies on ice (Capitals rink)
11:30 p.m.: All players on ice (Capitals rink)
1 p.m.: Media availability
5 p.m.: All players at Youth Hockey Clinic, MedStar Capitals Iceplex
Thursday, June 27
9:15 a.m.: Defense and goalies on ice (Capitals rink)
9:15 a.m.: Forwards on ice (Public rink)
10 a.m.: All players on ice (Capitals rink)
2:30 p.m.: 3-on-3 Tournament
4 p.m.: Media availability
Friday, June 28
9:45 a.m.: Forwards on ice (Arlington rink)
9:45 a.m.: Defensemen on ice (Capitals Rink)
10:45 a.m. Practice (Capitals Rink)
11:45 a.m.: Media availability
Saturday, June 29
10 a.m.: Development Camp Scrimmage, MedStar Capitals Iceplex (streamed live on Monumental Sports Network)
Yes the hockey season may be over but the offseason fun has just begun. Development Camp is a staple of the offseason traditions among all 31 NHL and here in Washington, it’s a big hit among those diehards who are suffering summer hockey withdraws. Oh and let’s not forget the beginning of NHL free agency which comes one week from now.