Photo: @CapsYouthHockey
Washington Capitals defensemen Nick Jensen and Jonas Siegenthaler participated in a practice with the Fort Dupont Cannons on Saturday afternoon at the Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Cannons coach and U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Neal Henderson lead the practice.
Founded in 1978, the Cannons are the oldest minority youth hockey program that is a member of the “Hockey Is For Everyone” initiative. The mission is to teach young people self-esteem, discipline, a sense of purpose, and to offer an incentive to excel academically.
Jensen said to ABC7, “We want that mentality in our sport that hockey is for everyone it’s not just for certain areas, states or countries.”
Caps players Nick Jensen and Jonas Siegenthaler participated in a @DCCannons practice this afternoon. Watch @nbcwashington @NBC4Sports tonight for scenes from Fort DuPont Ice Arena. pic.twitter.com/i4oZ3S83ux
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 1, 2020
The Capitals players ran some drills and skated with the Cannons. The 82-year coach watched practice from the bench.
“To let them know that the Caps came up the same way that they’re doing and they admire the fact that they’ve reached such a pinnacle in their life,” Henderson said.
Stay tuned to @ABC7News @ABC7Sports for a story on the @DCCannons. @Capitals players Nick Jensen and Jonas Siegenthaler joined their practice at Fort DuPont this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/s6f1pqCWUe
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 1, 2020
“We just want to put it in their minds that anything is possible and these kids hopefully I’ll see them in the NHL someday,” Jensen concluded.
Thank you @DCCannons for having us out to practice today. Nick and Jonas had a blast on the ice with the players and catching up with Neal and the rest of the coaches. #ALLCAPS #ThisIsHockey #HIFE pic.twitter.com/uu1vwHBiGX
— Caps Youth Hockey (@CapsYouthHockey) February 1, 2020
By Della Young
