The Washington Capitals are marking Black History Month with activities and events sponsored by Giant Food Stores.
The team will host Black History Day on Feb. 23 against the Edmonton Oilers to celebrate African American achievement in hockey. DJ Schemes will perform at a pregame celebration at District E.
The event will showcase the Capitals Rising Stars program and the team’s Black History specialty jersey. The team will also debut “Caps 11,” a song created with artist Saukrates honoring the 11 Black alumni in team history.
Earlier this month, Giant hosted a lunch and equipment event with the Baltimore Banners at the Mimi DiPietro Rink in Baltimore. Giant volunteers skated with the Banners after practice.
On Feb. 4, the Capitals unveiled special jerseys designed by The Museum DC during an event with Howard University at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. Players’ signed jerseys from the 2024-25 roster are being auctioned by the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation for the Capitals Capital Impact Fund.
The auction includes Black History Month pucks and team-signed youth jerseys. It opened at washcaps.com/BHAuction and ends Feb. 23 at 4 p.m.
Last year’s auction raised $41,450 for the fund, which the team and foundation created in 2020 to support local nonprofits advancing diversity in hockey and funding the Rising Stars Academy. The fund helps minority youth players and promotes equal opportunities.
Fans can visit the Black Hockey History Display at Capital One Arena’s main concourse in section 112. The permanent exhibit includes:
- Mike Marson’s 1975-76 home jersey, Joel Ward’s game-used stick and Devante Smith-Pelly’s game-worn helmet
- A jersey with the Players Against Hate end racism shoulder patch, worn during the 2021 Black History Night
- A timeline of Black players and key moments in team history
- A QR code linking to washcaps.com/blackhockey with information about diversity initiatives and community partners
On Feb. 5, the team unveiled its “Celebrating Black History” jersey at an event featuring Howard University faculty and students. A panel discussion followed with Smith-Pelly, now a Monumental Sports Network analyst; Howard alumnus and network reporter Tarik El-Bashir; Tennessee State hockey coach Duante’ Abercrombie; and The Museum DC’s LeGreg Harrison and Nyrik Lee.
The Howard University Figure Skating Club, which became the first such group at a historically Black college or university in 2023, participated in the event. The club competed in its first intercollegiate tournament this month.
The Capitals’ youth hockey program hosted a Rising Stars Academy clinic Saturday at MedStar Capitals Iceplex for more than 20 high school players.
