On Tuesday, Washington Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek spoke to the media following today’s practice and discussed being named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for January and getting comfortable in the net recently.
All the head pats for the rook! 🥰#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/PbMmv3ASoR
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2021
“It’s really nice when I heard it,” Vanecek said on being named the league’s Rookie of the Month for January. The team cheered for Vanecek after head coach Peter Laviolette made the announcement.”It was really nice when they told me on the ice…I didn’t know that. They [were] happy for me…great teammates.”
Vanecek gave a personal message to MedStar Washington Hospital Center emergency room RN Mary “Dani” Dell’Isola, who was also named Rookie of the Month. She began her nursing career as a new graduate in February 2020, right at the onset of the pandemic. A regular attendee of Capitals games, Dell’Isola, is anticipating the day to return to Capital One Arena.
And now a message from one @NHL Rookie of the Month to the other!
Congratulations again to @vitacz15 and Dani!#ALLCAPS https://t.co/KuYTkK5JI1 pic.twitter.com/peGSLddpMa
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2021
Before Monday’s 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins, Vanecek became the second rookie goaltender in franchise history to remain unbeaten in regulation in his first seven career games. Vanecek said he is starting to feel “more comfortable” getting the start in recent games.
He noted that he was “working really hard” during the summer. “[The] first couple of games [were] a little bit tough, but I get into game-shape and it’s feeling really good right now,” he said.
Vanecek said goaltender Craig Anderson has been helping the young netminder in his game, adding, “When he sees something in the game I can do [differently], he’ll try and help me.”
By Della Young
