Photo: Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals Alumni Association (WCAA) held their Fourth Annual “Stars and Spirits” Night on Friday night. The annual event raises money for the Capitals Alumni Community Fund, which aims to grow the game of hockey in the Washington DC area, as well as support local charities.
Capitals alumni in attendance at the event included: Karl Alzner, Nick Kypreos, Paul Mulvey, Errol Rausse, Brent Johnson, Peter Bondra, Bill Riley, Dennis Maruk, Yvon Labre, Dmitri Khristich, Andrei Nikolishin, Alan May, Sergei Gonchar, Ken Sabourin, Rod Langway, Olie Kolzig, Steve Oleksy, Kelly Miller, Alan Hangleben, Richard Zednik, and Craig Laughlin.
There were surprise appearances from Peter Laviolette and current Capitals players including Conor Sheary, Charles Lindgren, and Nic Dowd.
This year’s event was held at the Signal House DC Penthouse in the Union Market area, and featured custom cocktails, a variety of spirits, and premium hors d’oeuvres.
Silent Auction
Guests could take part in a silent auction for items including autographed jerseys, Capitals-themed paintings, player portraits, Capitals memorabilia and weekend getaways were available for bidding via the Handbid application.
Photo: Diane Doyle
Photo: Charlie McManus
Items from the live auction:
- Get Kraken – Joining Alan May and Craig Laughlin in an axe-throwing session at Kraken Axes
- Rock the Red Carpet – Join Dylan Strome at the Rock the Red Carpet event taking place before the team’s opening game
- Hershey Getaway – Watch a Hershey Bears game in a suite with Olie Kolzig and Bryan Helmer
- The Suite Life – Watch a Capitals game in a suite with Peter Bondra and Rod Langway
- Calling the Caps – Announcing the starting lineup in the locker room before the game and then getting to join the Caps alumni in their suite to watch the game
- Stadium Series Anheuser-Busch Experience – two tickets to the Stadium Series with Carolina, hotel stay, and dinner with Peter Bondra
- Media Marvel – Join the Caps broadcast team for a tour of Capitals One Arena and watch a period in the broadcast booth with Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin.
- Tee Time with Alzner – Gold with Karl Alzner
- Watch Party – Host a watch party for an away game that Slapshot and Peter Bondra would attend.
- The Shield – During the 2021-22 season, this Viking shield was presented to the defensive player of the game. This shield contained the autographs of all Capitals players on the team
Photo: Washington Capitals
Photo: Washington Capitals
Capitals’ radio announcer John Walton introduced each of the 20-plus alumni in attendance as they each walked to a staging area. All alumni in attendance were outfitted with new Alumni Association jackets.
Photo: Diane Doyle
Other attractions for guests in attendance included a visit from Slapshot, the Caps mascot, a caricaturist who created caricatures for guests, a photo booth and a roaming photographer. Nearly all members of the entire broadcasting crew for the Caps were also in attendance.
All in all, a fun night for the guests in attendance, and much money for charity was raised.
By Diane Doyle
