Capitals Prospects Inspire the Next Generation at Youth Hockey Clinic with 65 Local Players trucc

   

Ilya Protas, Joaquim Lemay, and Aron Dahlqvist joke around during a youth hockey clinic

ARLINGTON, VA — After three days of learning from the Capitals’ development staff, the team’s prospects got to do some coaching of their own. The Caps held a youth clinic for local players on Thursday afternoon, welcoming 65 children ages six to 12 to MedStar Capitals Iceplex.

Attendees split up among various stations, each with several prospects helping out. Though the afternoon focused on skill development, the clinic wasn’t all business, with plenty of fun and games breaking out throughout the event.

6’5” Ilya Protas, who has grown even taller since the Capitals drafted him in 2024, towered over the young participants as they chased each other around their section of the ice.

Prospects will have one more day of training with the team’s development coaches on Friday (though MedStar Capitals Iceplex will be closed to the public) before wrapping up the camp with the Capitals’ annual three-on-three tournament on Saturday morning.

 

A group photo of participants at the Capitals Development Camp youth clinic