The season is done… just a few parties, a parade and a draft left. The day after the Final concludes is always a bit depressing as there will be no real hockey until October. Sure, development camp will provide a brief interlude… but a looooong hockeyless summer begins today.
I could not be happier for the Washington Capitals. As a college student in DC, the Cap Center was always a destination. Tickets were cheap and plentiful and frankly… whenever the Flyers were in, it felt like the Spectrum South. This is a franchise that has seen the depths, seen the worst, felt the pain and now… after 43 years of futility… finally gets the joy of lifting the Cup. DC is a funny sports town, but they have gone a long time without a championship… frankly… they were due.
Before the series, I asked if a “nice guy can finish first” … the answer is yes. I have to admit, seeing Barry Trotz lift that cup got me misty… aw hell, who am I kidding… it was an ugly cry for the ages. Seeing all he has done for Nashville over his 15 years here… the community work that continues to this day… everything he has done for this community… this couldn’t happen to a better man… and the post game picture of him with his fantastic family… just perfection.
His assistants that also worked with him in Nashville… Lane Lambert… The man with the best flow in the NHL… I only wish his late wife Andi could’ve been there by his side, she was an awesome woman and bravely battled cancer before finally succumbing three years ago. Goaltending guru Mitch Korn, just an amazing man who loves the game and loves teaching it to kids. My middle guy attended one of his camps as an eight year old, his first “sleep away” camp and Mitch could not have been more gentle in his handling of it… not the kids… the parents! Giving us great advice and confidence that our kids would indeed be OK with us not there.
Then there are the folks I have gotten to know over the past few seasons, primarily Caps PA Announcer Wes Johnson. I don’t know if there is a classier guy on the planet. Wes has been the PA voice of the Capitals for 18 seasons and does an amazing job “unleashing the fury” at Capital One Arena. When I was asked to do the Stadium Series game in Annapolis this season, Wes could not have been a more professional gentleman. He filled me in on some inside stuff I could do to make it feel more like a Caps home game and was there for me every step of the way. He certainly set the standard for how to act in these types of situations and I can only hope to follow his lead should I find myself in the same place.
Congratulations to the Caps and their fans! You paid your dues and now enjoy the reward.
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The Playoff Tracker … a daily update of the Stanley Cup Playoffs brought to you by Mark Lonsway - THE real estate professional for hockey fans!
The Stanley Cup Final
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Washington Capitals – WSH wins 4-1
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@PeteBlackburn on Twitter won the internet post-game last night…
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Random Notes
- Are we starting a new tradition??? Victory Boobs?
- I can’t wait to see video from the parties on the strip last night… if you can’t win the cup at home… winning it in Las Vegas ain’t a bad alternative.
- As someone who works closely with office officials, there is a second clock going at all times to ensure that the correct time is always kept… it is synced after every stoppage.
- Estimates were that up to 40% of T-Mobile Arena were Caps fans last night… that is astounding to me.
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