Love the Game, Don't Like Puck Bunnies

Russian Machine Out of Service: Ovechkin Week-to-Week

2009-11-02T23:05:00.006-05:00

Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin has been listed week-to-week, a downgrade from day-to-day, after sustaining an upper-body strain when he collided with Columbus Blue Jackets’ Raffi Torres on Sunday.Ovechkin is expected to miss the fifth game of his five-year career, the third due to injury, on Wednesday at New Jersey.“Russian machine never breaks," often quips Ovechkin.Well the machine is

Piatakovas Hosts Caps Chat on CSN Washington

2009-11-01T15:04:00.002-05:00

Chasta Piatakovas will host the Caps Chat on CSN Washington from the press box during Columbus Blue Jackets vs. the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center. The chat starts at 4:45 pm: join the chat.

Number 13 Unlucky, Lucky for Washington Capitals

2009-10-31T06:00:00.001-04:00

The number 13 is considered bad luck, and perhaps for the Washington Capitals when Glen Hanlon became the team’s 13th head coach (2003-07).Several players are superstitious, but fearlessly Bates Battaglia (2003-04), Jiri Novotny (2006-07) and Joey Tenute (2005-06) wore #13.However, the number 13, with a recognized phobia, triskaidekaphobia, is considered a special number for the franchise as Joe

H1N1 Hits Caps Locker Room

2009-10-29T09:41:00.003-04:00

With nearly every state reporting swine flu cases, it’s clear that the H1N1 virus doesn’t discriminate.The H1N1 flu has even spread into the NHL, including the Capital’s locker room. Forward Quintin Laing is the fourth reported player to be diagnosed with the illness, causing an obvious concern for the Caps.Laing has been quarantined from the team as well as his wife and two small sons.With

From the Press Box: Philadelphia Flyers vs. Washington Capitals

2009-10-27T23:41:00.000-04:00

The Phone Booth filled with the Rocking-the-Red faithful who braved the cold and drizzling rain to see the second of four meetings this season between the Washington Capitals (6-2-2) and the Philadelphia Flyers (5-3-1).Déjà vu—the same weather for press coverage of Flyers vs. Capitals in January. The Capitals went into the game with 14 points to top the Southeast Division. The Flyers are fourth

Four Most Power People in the Capitals Organization

2009-10-20T21:52:00.005-04:00

Alex Ovechkin made the list of the 50 most powerful people in DC.Other than Ovechkin, the most powerful people in the Capitals organization include:Ted Leonsis, Chairman and Majority OwnerLeonsis is widely regarded as one of the most fan-and media-friendly owners in pro sports. His accessibility makes him powerful with the public. He publishes his e-mail address and responds to e-mail, and writes

Cool Cats Have Busy Columbus Day Weekend

2009-10-19T19:42:00.008-04:00

Over the Columbus Day weekend, the Cool Cats, teamed with the Montgomery Cheetahs, participated in the New Jersey DareDevils’ “Frankenfest” Hockey Tournament at Richard Codey Arena in West Orange, NJ, Sat. and Sun., Oct. 10 and 11, and while back at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, the 16 Cool Cats faced the Montgomery Cheetahs on Sat. At Frankenfest, the 10 Cool Cats

Capitals Host Inaugural Convention, Forwards Leave Kids and Adults in Stitches

2009-10-02T20:19:00.011-04:00

The Washington Capitals hosted the inaugural Capitals Convention at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, MD on Sept. 26 to a sold-out crowd of more than 5,000. The NOVA Cool Cats, Washington Capitals Fan Club, and the Kelly Cup champions South Carolina Stingrays with the Cup tabled at the all-day affair. The large event included intriguing panel discussions of

From the Press Box: New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals

2009-09-27T19:21:00.008-04:00

The Washington Capitals faced the New York Rangers at Verizon Center for the Capitals’ final pre-season game. The crowd was light for this Sunday matinee, on the eve of Yom Kippur.In their first matchup of pre-season, the Blueshirts defeated the Caps 3-2 on Sept. 24 at Madison Square Garden, handing the Capitals their second loss. In today’s game, the Capitals

Amateur Women's Hockey Club in Ukraine Receives Help From Abroad

2009-09-21T11:10:00.009-04:00

Women’s hockey worldwide continues to be on the rise. Those that once believed that women couldn’t or shouldn’t play hockey have been proven incredibly wrong by women that rule the ice.Teams are forming for women globally including an amateur hockey club located 301 miles from Kiev, Ukraine, in the western city of Ternopol (Ternopil).Podolyanochka consists of

#FollowFriday on Twitter (Updated)

2009-08-28T08:00:00.003-04:00

#FollowFriday has become one of the most popular social networking trends on Twitter. Every Friday users post the usernames they want to recommend for their friends to follow with the hashtag #followfriday.This list serves as #followfriday recommendations:Noteworthy charitable causes (please donate today and re-tweet on #charitytuesday):@autismspeaks (Autism Speaks)@hockeyidealist (The Hockey

It’s Official … Summer Causes NHL Withdrawal. Is It October Yet?

2009-07-28T11:00:00.001-04:00

School kids hanker for summer breaks, but to hockey fans summer signifies the end of the world until October.The winter sport has a deeply rooted significance in the quality of a hockey fan’s life. For example, to Adam Sherlip, hockey embodies life’s virtues of teamwork, selflessness, loyalty, honesty and accountability.During the eight-month season, passionate followers commonly discuss stats

Q&A With The Hockey Volunteer Adam Sherlip

2009-07-26T15:23:00.010-04:00

German-French theologian Albert Schweitzer said, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” Adam Sherlip found how to serve. In this Q&A he talks about traveling the world for the love of hockey.When and how did you get started in hockey?I got started in hockey by playing in

Social Media Keeping NHL Teams and Fans Connected

2009-07-05T15:33:00.014-04:00

The popularity of social media has surged—it spreads news quickly and connects millions of people around the world simultaneously. Even the NHL has adopted social media. Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter have been instrumental in keeping fans informed about the NHL draft, the free agency frenzy and the Hunter-Stoll breakup in real time, thereby dramatically transforming news

The Love the Game Bucket List

2009-06-30T09:11:00.003-04:00

Given the recent deaths of Ed McMahon (age 86), Farrah Fawcett (age 62), and Michael Jackson and Billy Mays (both age 50), here is a bucket list before Love the Game kicks the bucket: Finish business plan and launch Love the Game online clothing storefront;Learn Czech then visit Prague and tour the Franz Kafka Museum and watch a HC Sparta Praha or HC Slavia Praha game;Become fluent in Russian

Outside the Courtroom, Southern Ontario, Phoenix Wages War for Coyotes

2009-05-28T19:18:00.005-04:00

Fighting has become a controversial aspect of hockey. Now the NHL is engrossed in another fight: the court hearings concerning the bailout and potential relocation of the Phoenix Coyotes.BlackBerry boss Jim Balsillie extended an offer to bail out the Coyotes and relocate the team to Southern Ontario, and league, team, and the Canadian billionaire are spending countless hours in and out of the

Steroids Claim Rocks Capitals

2009-05-27T15:48:00.004-04:00

While recent media coverage has focused on widespread use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) in Major League Baseball (MLB) and the National Football League (NFL), such problems in the National Hockey League (NHL) have eluded media attention until recently when a Florida couple implicated the Washington Capitals in a steroid bust.Richard and Sandra Thomas claim to have sold anabolic steroids

Three Reasons Semyon Varlamov Should Be on the Capitals’ 2009-10 Roster

2009-05-23T19:31:00.004-04:00

The success of the Washington Capitals rested on the shoulders of the 21-year-old rookie goaltender Semyon Varlamov.While his future with the Capitals is uncertain until training camp, there are at least three reasons Varlamov should be on the Capitals’ roster come the start of the 2009-10 season:1. Varlamov has strong mental performance with an incredible ability to remain calm and focused for

Love the Game on Twitter

2009-05-18T14:22:00.004-04:00

News and updates on hockey and the Washington Capitals from Love the Game, Don’t Like Puck Bunnies has been emerging in 140 characters or less thanks to Twitter.Twitter has become a growing trend in social media linking professional athletes, the media, and fans. In March, Love the Game (@love_the_game) joined the trend.Love the Game will tweet and re-tweet breaking news, behind-the-scenes access

When Athletes Attack: Violence and Fighting in the NHL

2009-05-12T19:19:00.001-04:00

The NHL suspended Washington Capital Donald Brashear for six games for shoving New York Ranger Colton Orr and delivering a blindside hit to Blair Betts in Game 6 of the quarterfinals.Pittsburgh Penguin Chris Kunitz avoided suspension for a crosscheck to the head of Capital rookie goaltender Semyon Varlamov in Game 2 in the semifinals, but the league did fine Kunitz $2,500.Carolina Hurricanes

Get Caught Reading: 2009 Reading List

2009-05-03T19:05:00.012-04:00

Get caught reading these great hockey books in May for Get Caught Reading Month.FICTIONHockey Player For Life (Howard Shapiro)Hockey Player For Life tells the story of the rise and fall, and the mistakes of thirteen-year-old puck-rushing defenseman Tom Leonard. Tom is the Magic Rats’ best player, who gets invited to be on an AAA team in Toronto, but after playing in two tournaments, he is

Happy Birthday Varlamov

2009-04-27T09:04:00.006-04:00

Семён—поздравляю с Днем Рождения!! Желаю тебе крепкого здоровьяa, а так жедолгих и счастливых лет жизни!И самое главное, желаю тебе счастья - безмерного счастья каждый день!(Translation: Semyon, congratulations on your birthday!! I wish you strong health and long and happy years of life. Most importantly, I wish you unlimited happiness every day!)

Will Capitals Goalie Jose Theodore Bounce Back?

2009-04-17T12:21:00.006-04:00

The New York Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals in Game 1 on April 15. In the best of seven series, the teams play Game 2 on April 18 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC.The Capitals struggled in goaltending in the first game on home ice with Jose Theodore allowing four goals, including back-to-back goals in 99 seconds.Bruce Boudreau, head coach, may be pondering whether to replace veteran

Anxiety Builds as Tax Deadline and Game 1 Nears

2009-04-15T00:32:00.002-04:00

The dreaded tax day has begun. For many, it's a time of high tax anxiety.At the same time in the nation’s capital, tens of thousands are teeming with playoff anxiety.For the second consecutive year, the Washington Capitals clinched a playoff spot and the Southeast Division title, and the city couldn’t be more content and anxious to get the playoffs started.Capitals’ defenseman Mike Green prepares

Q&A with Sportswriter Chasta Piatakovas

2009-04-09T10:00:00.005-04:00

Love the Game published a series of interviews with nine amazing women sportswriters in honor of Women’s History Month in March: Christy Hammond, Teresa Bondora, Nicole Haase, Nina Rota, Veronica Romm, Diana DeRosa, Sherry Jean, Leslie Silvey, and Liz Foster Chang.We thought we’d end the series with an interview from yours truly. Were you always interested in sports? Throughout school, I