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Capitals To Host Black History Night vs. Leafs; Riley & Green To Drop Puck

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Capitals Black History Night warmup jerseys

To close out February’s schedule, the Washington Capitals will celebrate Black History Night on Feb. 28 when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The night will honor the Capitals’ history and celebrate Black achievement in hockey as the team works to continue growing the game in the DMV. Throughout the night, the team will pay tribute to history and also honor D.C.’s Fort Dupont Cannons. Fort Dupont is the oldest minority hockey program in North America.

Washington’s players will sport special warmup jerseys celebrating the festivities. The black and red sweaters also feature a Fort Dupont Cannons patch on the shoulder.

After warmups, the jerseys will be autographed and then auctioned off along with signed pucks and other items commemorating Black History Month. All proceeds will benefit the Capital Impact Fund. In 2020, the Capitals and Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation founded the Capital Impact Fund to provide grants to organizations to help eliminate cost barriers for individuals of color in the hockey community.

MSE’s fundraiser is now open and ends on March 2 at 3 p.m. ET. Those interested in the auction can find more information here.

Also, former Capitals forward Bill Riley and his granddaughter, Kryshanda Green, will drop the puck in a ceremonial puck drop.

Riley made his NHL debut with Washington back in 1974. He became the first Black Nova Scotian to play in the NHL and the third Black player in NHL history. Riley finished his tenure in D.C. with 28 goals and 28 assists through 125 games.

Green, meanwhile, was the first Black captain of the Ryerson Rams women’s hockey team. With the Rams, she broke the all-time points and all-time assists records. She is currently serving on the NHL’s Youth Hockey Inclusion Council.

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During the game, the Capitals will wear special helmet decals featuring Neal Henderson’s likeness to honor his impact on the game. Henderson became the first Black individual to be inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame back in 2019.

Washington will also pay tribute to diversity and inclusion and have several special guests throughout the night. The Capitals Black Hockey History display will also be on display.