Saturday morning, 6,000 fans crammed into Kettler Capitals Iceplex to send the team off in fashion before traveling to Las Vegas. The event was less an official hockey practice and more a chaotic pep rally featuring lots of cheering and roaring.
The cutest, most-screeching moment may have belonged to 17-year-old West Potomac High School student Maddy W., who is a self-admitted superfan of TJ Oshie.
Maddy waited outside along a guardrail to cheer and greet the players as they made their exit. And then… it happened. A high five from Oshie sent the teenager into a screaming, omg-did-that-really-happen fit of exuberance.
“TJ Oshie has been an idol of mine for so long and I am so happy and proud to see how far him and the team have come this season,” Maddy said to me in an email. “Meeting him today was an amazing experience.”
Maddy went on to explain that she had been a Caps fan since she was six-years-old.
“One night my mom just decided to turn on the hockey game,” she said. “I’m pretty sure it’s because the Redskins weren’t doing to hot and we immediately fell in love with the sport and the team. There’s so much energy and passion in this team especially this year, and it has really showed. It’s hard sticking with a team that can somethings have a rough time during the playoffs, but having them make it to the Stanley Cup Final makes sticking through the pain all the more worth while.”
Maddy was especially impressed by how Oshie composed himself after enduring a two goals in 47-game stretch (via NBCSN) and injuries.
“He cares about both the team and the community,” Maddy said. “He is always smiling even if he’s going through a rough patch whether that’s in hockey or just life.”
And that’s worth celebrating.
