BEHIND THE JERSEY
VIDEOS
Our History
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Black Hockey History Display
On Feb. 2, 2022 vs. the Edmonton Oilers, the Capitals unveiled a permanent Black Hockey History Display at Capital One Arena devoted to the history and legacy of their black players. The display is located at section 112 on the main concourse and features:
- Memorabilia including a 1975-76 home jersey worn by Mike Marson (1974-79), a game-used stick by Joel Ward (2011-15) and a game-worn helmet by Devante Smith-Pelly (2017-19).
- A warmup jersey featuring a Players Against Hate end racism shoulder patch. Capitals players wore and auctioned off the jerseys during the Feb. 25, 2021 Black History Night.
- A timeline featuring Black players and key moments in Capitals history.
- An interactive QR code that drives visitors to washcaps.com/blackhockey, featuring additional information to learn about the Capitals commitment to diversity, honoring Black players in history, community partners, resources and more.
United By Hockey Mobile Museum
The Capitals have contributed to and hosted the NHL's "United By Hockey" Mobile Museum for several consecutive seasons. The mobile museum showcases today's black athletes while also looking back at the pioneers and trailblazers who helped shape NHL history.
Celebrating Black Hockey
The Capitals annually host a Black History in Hockey Night, honoring contributions of Black players to the game.
In February 2020, Capitals alumni Joel Ward participated in a ceremonial puck drop. During the 2018-19 season, Civil rights leader and U.S. Representative John Lewis and NHL legend Willie O'Ree participated in a ceremonial puck drop. Past Black History Night ceremonial puck drops have featured Fort Dupont Cannons coach Neal Henderson as well as the entire Fort Dupont coaching staff.
NMAAHC Exhibit
The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) has installed a new exhibition case dedicated to hockey. On view in the "Sports: Leveling the Playing Field" gallery, the exhibition explores hockey's early history and Black athletes' contributions, including a hockey stick used by Capital alumnus Joel Ward,a patch from the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club and a new statue honoring the first Black player in the NHL, Willie O'Ree.
Our Commitment
A Capitals Hockey School Milestone Event
The Capitals Hockey School program celebrated a milestone partnership with Prince George’s County Public Schools at Capitol Heights Elementary.
Capitals Hockey School Program: A Golden Generation
Capitals Hockey School Program Launches in Prince George’s County; Surpasses 1 Million Participants
Rink Refurbishment
In 2015, in conjunction with the Winter Classic, the Capitals, NHL, Washington D.C. Parks and Recreation and Washington D.C. Public Schools, completed a $115,000 restoration project at Watkins Rush Rink in southeast DC to encourage the growth of hockey throughout the community. The project spearheaded the Capitals programming that provided street hockey equipment to all D.C. Public Schools.
Resources and Media
HDAtv
Working in conjunction with the HDA Academic Panel and our friends at Sportsnet, the HDA has developed three video modules that cover a wide range of topics including the history of BIPOC hockey players, racism towards Asian, Indigenous and Black players, other forms of discrimination (religion, gender, and sexual orientation) and more.Â
Videos are grouped together based on three themes: Module 1 - History, Module 2 - Unconscious Bias, and Module 3 - Reenactments.
Soul on Ice: Past Present & Future
Executive Produced by LeBron James and Aubrey "Drake" Graham, Black Ice is a 2022 Canadian documentary film, directed by Hubert Davis and produced by Vinay Virmani. Based in part on Darril Fosty and George Fosty's 2004 non-fiction book Black Ice: The Lost History of the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes, 1895-1925, the film presents a history of the Coloured Hockey League of the Maritimes of the early 20th century, and the lingering history of anti-black racism in the sport of ice hockey.
Willie
"Willie" provides historical context and depth to Willie O'Ree's incredible journey as the first black player to skate in a National Hockey League game. The film is a testament to the resilience and determination of a man empowered by his family's legacy, and the people he has inspired along the way.
MSE partners Ted Leonsis, Sheila Johnson, and Earl Stafford served as executive producers of the film and was produced by a team comprised completely of minority and women filmmakers that have crafted a poignant, powerful story.
Brothers On Ice
Brothers on Ice is an immersive feature documentary following the day-to-day lives of Coach Neal Henderson and his team of young African American hockey players in the longest serving minority hockey program in North America, the Fort Dupont Hockey Cannons in Washington DC. Over the course of one pivotal hockey season, two teenage boys and one legendary coach navigate the trials and tribulations of inner city living while striving to pursue their dreams on and off the ice. In a year of immense change in America and racial tensions, Brothers on Ice is a story about hope; the power of sport; and the pursuit of the American Dream.
Soul On Ice: Past, Present, and Future
Soul On Ice: Past, Present, & Future is a 2016 American documentary film directed, produced, and written by Damon Kwame Mason.The film tells the story of the Colored Hockey League and the history of Black players in ice hockey in the United States and Canada.
At the heart of the film is Jaden Lindo, a young man pursuing his lifelong dream to play in the NHL, accompanied by interviews with P.K. Subban, Wayne Simmonds, Anson Carter, Joel Ward, Trevor Daley, Tony McKegney, five-time Stanley Cup winner Grant Fuhr, and more.
Black Girl Hockey Club: Get Uncomfortable
Get Uncomfortable Campaign is a campaign to disrupt racism on and off the ice and make hockey welcoming for EVERYONE! Since 2020, over 8,000 hockey-loving people have signed the BGHC Get Uncomfortable Campaign. We are excited to mobilize this group of people to champion equality, equity, and anti-racism in hockey.
THE COLOR OF HOCKEY
William Douglas: The Color of Hockey
Launched in 2012 after seeing the hate aimed toward Joel Ward on social media after his playoff OT goal in Boston, The Color of Hockey is a passion project and blog started by William Douglas. An outlet to educated fans and to share often overlooked stories of minorities in hockey, The Color of Hockey has expanded its reach as a featured column on NHL.com alongside the original blog.
