Tonight marked the return not only of Capitals hockey from Snovechkin and John Carlson from the injured list. but also the sale of Courage Caps.

This year, Telos, Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation and the Washington Capitals are teaming up to sell the Courage Caps and T-shirts during home games at Verizon, at the team store, Kettler Ice Complex and online at www.WashingtonCaps.com. The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) will receive 100 percent of the proceeds from all sales.

TAPS is a nonprofit organization that provides ongoing peer-based emotional support to all those who are grieving the death of someone who died while serving in the Armed Forces. Through TAPS, surviving family members and loved ones are connected with peer-based support who provide emotional support, seminars and comfort to the bereaved. TAPS also offers specialized services for Good Grief Camps and Camp outs especially to help children cope with their grief.

There are also a limited number of player signed Courage Caps and T-shirts available for sale at Washingtoncaps.com and at the MSE Foundation table at  Verizon Center. For $50, fans can purchase a Courage Cap or T-shirt signed by Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, Braden Holtby, T.J. Oshie, Alex Ovechkin or Tom Wilson; for $40 fans can purchase hats or T-shirts signed by any rostered player.

The Courage Caps program is highly successful. During the past eight years, the campaign has raised more than $630,000 by selling almost 20,000 hats and $9,000 selling Courage T-shirts in six years.

The Capitals launched this year’s Courage Caps campaign at a skating party on January 20th at Kettler Ice Complex where they hosted 150 children and adults who lost a family member in military service and received comfort and support from TAPS.

By Stephanie Judge