This winter, the Herndon native became the first Northern Virginia-born player to score an NHL goal. We chatted with the Washington Capitals rookie, 26, about his first pro game, playing for the hometown team, and the future of hockey in Virginia.
Since you’re from this area, what’s your earliest memory of the Washington Capitals? How old were you when you went to your first game?
I would go to games a couple times each year with my dad. I was probably about 7 or 8 when I went to my first game with him.
Your first NHL game was in December against the Los Angeles Kings. What was it like when you got the word that you were being called up from the minor leagues to the Capitals?
I was really excited. Being 25, you don’t really know if the opportunity will ever come, so I was very happy. A lot of family and friends were able to make it to my first game, so that was great.
How have you seen the Capitals’ fandom grow from the time you were a kid to now?
I think the hockey community and overall Capitals’ fandom has grown quite a bit since I first started playing hockey. I would probably attribute that to the Capitals’ team success and the community outreach programs that they have.
Who was your favorite player, or the player who inspired you growing up?
My favorite player was [Nicklas] Backstrom. I loved his creativity and his playmaking ability, and when I was younger, I really tried to model my game after his. I also loved how unselfish he is with the puck.
What does it mean to you to be the first player from Virginia to play for the Capitals? How do you think your tenure with the Capitals will affect future generations of Virginia-born players in the NHL?
I’m proud to be from Virginia and have the opportunity to play for the Capitals. I hope that kids may look up to my career, but there are already a lot of good young players coming up the ranks from Virginia and the DC area. It’s been great to see other players from Virginia (like Zac Jones of the New York Rangers) make it, and he’s having a lot of success.
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
Nothing specific or bizarre. Everything is pretty standard for me. I have a pretty boring pregame meal that I enjoy: I always have rice, chicken, and avocado.
When you have an off day, what are your go-to spots around NoVA?
I love to golf, but I can’t really do that during the season.
So far, what is your favorite memory from your time in the NHL?
It would have to be my first game. I had a lot of family and friends there, so it was really just having them there and being able to share that moment with them.
Feature image courtesy Washington Capitals
This story originally appeared in the April issue of Northern Virginia magazine. Subscribe for more stories like this.
