Skating rinks from northern Virginia to southern Maryland have always been hotbeds for youth hockey, but the Washington Capitals’ run to the Stanley Cup Final is taking the sport to a new level, especially for young players enthralled with Alex Ovechkin and his teammates.
“There are certainly more Caps fans among our players and their families than there have been in the past and the youngest age groups are growing significantly,” said Russell Smith, the chief operating officer and hockey director for the Laurel, Maryland-based Tri-City Eagles. “There is definitely a buzz around the rink about the Caps’ success and on any night they play, you can see people glued to the TVs in the rink.