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Capitals Raise Nearly $30,000 During Hockey Fights Cancer Night

October 31, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 25, 2011
Capitals Raise Nearly $30,000 During Hockey Fights Cancer Night
Donations benefit Flashes of Hope

ARLINGTON, Va. â€" The Washington Capitals raised $28,225 for the Washington, D.C., chapter of Flashes of Hope through their Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Oct. 22. Flashes of Hope is a nonprofit organization that changes the way children with cancer and other life threatening illnesses see themselves through the gift of photography and raises money for pediatric cancer research. The Washington, D.C., Flashes of Hope chapter is funded by Washington Capitals Charities and based out of Children’s National Medical Center in northwest Washington.

The Capitals auctioned autographed jerseys that the players wore during pregame warmups at the team’s Oct. 22 home game against the Detroit Red Wings. The jerseys featured Hockey Fights Cancer patches on the front with the players’ names and numbers stitched in lavender on the back. Lavender is the official color the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer month, as it represents all forms of cancer.

Fifteen jerseys went for $1,000 or more, with Alex Ovechkin’s jersey the top seller at $2,025. Other top bid recipients were jerseys worn and autographed by Karl Alzner, Nicklas Backstrom, Troy Brouwer, John Carlson, Mike Green, Matt Hendricks, Marcus Johansson, Mike Knuble, Brooks Laich, Michal Neuvirth, Mathieu Perreault, Alexander Semin, Tomas Vokoun and Dennis Wideman. There was also a Capitals-branded guitar autographed by the entire Caps team that was auctioned off for $3,000.

Before the Oct. 22 game 12-year-old cancer survivor and Caps fan Anthony Holley participated in a ceremonial puck drop with Caps captain Alex Ovechkin and Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom. Mike Green (Green’s Gang) and Alex Ovechkin (Ovi’s Crazy 8’s) donated their seats to Flashes of Hope so pediatric cancer patients who have been treated at Children’s National could attend the game.

Caps players, team personnel, front office staff and broadcast partners actively participated in the initiative. All players’ helmets featured a Hockey Fights Cancer decal throughout the month of October. Coaches and select owners, broadcasters and team personnel wore commemorative Hockey Fights Cancer ties, while in-arena host Guerin Austin wore a Capitals Hockey Fights Cancer jacket and hat during the game on Oct. 22. Forward Jason Chimera was featured in a PSA with Holley that ran during Capitals home games in October and is featured on WashingtonCaps.com and Holley and his mother, Mary Jeter, were interviewed on-air during the first intermission by Comcast SportsNet’s Al Koken.

Hockey Fights Cancer is a component of the NHL's "Biggest Assist Happens off the Ice" campaign, the league's long-standing tradition of addressing important social issues in North America and around the world. It is a joint initiative founded in 1998 by the NHL and the Players' Association to raise money and awareness for national and local organizations involved in cancer care and research. Hockey Fights Cancer is supported by NHL member clubs, NHL alumni, the NHL Officials' Association, professional hockey trainers and equipment managers, corporate marketing partners, broadcast partners and fans throughout North America. To date more than $11 million has been raised to support national and local cancer research institutions, children's hospitals, player charities and local cancer organizations.

The goal of Flashes of Hope is to photograph every child until every child is cured. Flashes of Hope provides free portrait packages to children with cancer and their families. These photographs help children feel better about their changing appearance by celebrating it. For families of terminally ill children, it's especially important to have a portrait that forever preserves the beauty, grace and dignity of their child. Last year 166 D.C.-area families were photographed during eight shoots hosted by the Washington, D.C., chapter of Flashes of Hope. Chimera attended a photo shoot on the Hematology/Oncology Care Unit at Children’s Hospital in October 2010, spending time with patients and their families, taking photos and signing autographs. Chimera and Laich also participated in a Flashes of Hope photo shoot at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on Oct.14 as part of Hockey Fights Cancer month.

PHOTO CAPTION: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and Detroit Red Wings captain Nicklas Lindstrom take the ceremonial puck drop from 12-year-old cancer survivor and Caps fan Anthony Holley on Oct. 22 at Verizon Center.