50 years ago the great Abe Pollin blessed Washington with a hockey franchise, our beloved Washington Capitals. We know how they got the name. It was a vote. But where did the nickname come from?
Once the team was purchased the team needed a home and look no further than the Capitol Centre. Pollin was the father of the Centre so he thought the name was perfect to go along with the Capitol Bullets.
Someone named "Mayor McCheese" of the Ice Capades, soon to open at the Centre as the name was set. Mrs. John Storlarick of Alexandria was the winner. She was almost born a hockey fan. She grew up in Canada and had season tickets for the Regina Pats, a junior hockey team in Saskatchewan.": Per Mike Vogel of WashingtonCaps.com.
Schmidt would take some time away from his near constant scouting grind to return to Washington for the annoucment and he was pleased with the choice quoting, "I liike the name. I think it fits in just fantastic."
The Horn Guy
The Horn Guy is a long time season ticket holder from Maryland. And he still is to this very day and sometimes you can still hear it ring through Capital One Arena. Actually all the time along with some updated music. And sometimes you can nod along and sing along to the lyrics, that is, if you know the words.
But the horn guy needs just three blows. Once those three blows are hit the chorus of LETS GO CAPS rings throughout the arena and throughout the DMV.
The GOAT
There's also the loud fan in the lower level if you're lucky enough to afford a seat down there. But even if you can't afford a ticket you can still hear him scream LETS GO CAPS from all the way to the tippy top of the upper deck.
2018 Stadium Series
In the 2018 Stadium Series the jersey soared to new heights no pun intended as CAPS was embroidered across the chest for their first game in Maryland since the closing of the Capital Centre. Fans showed up and showed out. From the epic flyover to the thumping of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Even when the power went out fans got in on the fun and got their phones out.
Hope you enjoyed this fun trip down memory lane as we are just 69 days away from the season beginning if you're reading this on Sunday.