Photo: Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images

We all remember where we were on June 7, 2018. We remember the emotions of that night and hearing the words, “The Washington Capitals are 2018 Stanley Cup Champions”. For Capitals forward T.J. Oshie, it was about making a childhood dream come true and sharing a heartwarming moment with his father.

After the Capitals won the Cup, Oshie gave an emotional interview talking about his father, Tim’s battle with Alzheimer’s. “This one will stick with him forever. You can guarantee that,” Oshie said.

I remember watching that interview on TV and tears were already in my eyes just from the fact the team won. Seeing the pure emotion on Oshie’s face and hearing it in his voice was a very touching moment.

Now, I can’t speak for every NHL player or any hockey player for that matter, but I can almost guarantee their dream is to win the Stanley Cup. For Oshie, it was.

Last week, the 33-year old right-winger sat down with Roger Bennett. In 1993, Bennett immigrated to the United States from the United Kingdom and became a Capitals’ fan after seeing the team play at US Airways Arena, which was previously known as the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland.

“It was on the opposite end of the emotional spectrum,” Bennett said about Oshie and his father. The two hugged during the Cup presentation and exchanged the simplest yet warming words:

“I love you, son.”
“I love you, coach.”

Oshie explained that his dad was always in the backyard playing with him and would “lose” just to make T.J. happy. Many times, the father and son would pretend to win the NHL’s biggest award.

It all came true in Game 5 against the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

“We did it. We did it, Dad,” Oshie said.

The Capitals forward noted the moment was “special”. Tim is battling Alzheimer’s to which Oshie mentioned that he does forget things. “He didn’t forget that one and I had a feeling he wouldn’t,” Oshie said.

He was honored by the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) in May 2019 for his support and awareness. Oshie has participated in several events to fight Alzheimer’s such as The Longest Day campaign, hosting raffles, and taking part in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Just recently, Oshie and his brand, WARROAD, hosted the Super Service Challenge (SSC) Broomball Tournament at Medstar Capitals Iceplex.

TJ Oshie talks about his father, Alzheimer’s, and the indelible memory of winning the Stanley Cup 🙌💪pic.twitter.com/Au6n8bOTvN

— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) March 10, 2020

You can watch the full Men in Blazers on Ice interview here. Oshie and Bennett discuss several other topics in the six-minute interview, including the team’s unique pregame rituals and Oshie’s famous beer chug through the shirt.

By Della Young