Photo: Twitter: @Capitals
While the Washington Capitals are continuing their West Coast swing, the practice rinks at MedStar Capitals Iceplex have not gone unused. Over the weekend, the Professional Women’s Hockey Player Association held their Secret Dream Gap Tour at the NHL club’s practice facility and on Sunday, they had two special guests in attendance.
Capitals defenseman John Carlson, who has been out of the lineup since December after taking a slapshot to the side of the head, and former Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby took in the final day of the PWHPA’s showcase at MedStar.
Old friend alert!
👋 #HoltBeast#PWHPAinDC | #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/fswt8gZrqd
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 5, 2023
Holtby played parts of 10 seasons in Washington before departing in free agency in the summer of 2020. After stops in Vancouver and Dallas, Holtby has not played since the conclusion of the 2021-22 season, but has not officially retired from professional hockey.
The Caps drafted Holtby with the 93rd overall pick (4th RD) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft (the same year they took Carlson in the first-round) and he went on to become the team’s number one netminder, playing a key part in the team’s 2018 Stanley Cup run. Upon his return to D.C. with the Dallas Stars last year, he was given a raucous ovation by the Capital One Arena crowd.
Braden Holtby and John Carlson in the building to watch all of the @pwhpa action today! @Capitals pic.twitter.com/8ESZCYjqKP
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 5, 2023
Holtby, whose children were born during his time as a member of the Capitals, has often expressed his love of the DMV and during his playing days partook in a number of off-ice initiatives. The 33-year old ranks second (282) in Wins in franchise history, tied for first in shutouts (35), second (.918) in Save Percentage, third (2.53) in Goals-Against Average, and won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goalie in 2016, after tying Martin Brodeur’s single season Wins record of 48.
By Michael Fleetwood
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