Development Camp Day 4 photos

I began my Thursday by waking at an unholy hour to catch an Acela train down from New York’s Penn Station, and arrived at Kettler in time to take in at least part of Group B Thursday morning.

Yes, chain restuarants (which definition for now includes Dunkin’ Donuts) in New York City are required to post approximate calorie counts for standard menu items.

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, weather-wise.  Both outdoors, and in.

Simeon Varlamov, textbook in the morning practice

Simeon, after the 2nd period of today’s scrimmage, engaged in a friendly, animated discussion with one of the linesmen working the game.  It was a pleasure to see him happily conversing, apparently without any language barrier.

OFB provides a poignant essay on the isolation that young Simeon suffers here, right now, as a result of this linguistic (and cultural, being from a relatively small Russian town) barrier.

Jake Hauswirth observes the clear of the puck

I wouldn’t put a number to it, but scrimmage today was observed by enough fans such that, if one were to saunter into Kettler mid-third period and take a bleacher seat, she’d have to cozy up pretty close to someone already seated, fixated on the game.  And probably someone eating popcorn.

Big hits were few and far between this Thursday afternoon, but that part of the affair picked up in the third.  2008 draftee - agitator, hornet, tempo-guy, pest in waiting - Stefan Della Rovere had a fine shift early in the third, scoring a goal with a quick wrister in the slot, top left corner.  Then, on a later shift, he appeared to hurt himself, attempting a run at someone behind the opposing net.  But, hey, an A for effort! 

In between those shifts, Godfrey laid out Hauswirth in the offensive zone. 

Another ‘08 draftee, John Carlson, bore down and fired a rocket on net, and the thump of Dan Dunn’s pads echoed throughout the rink.

Speaking of goaltending, Braden Holtby performed a fantastic sequence of in-tight stops, but the last minute push of Team White was too much, and led to the tie score (4-4) and shootout.

John Carlson's unsuccessful shootout goal attempt

Free mid-summer hockey.  With high-end talent, most of which are Capitals property.  And serious air-conditioning in the middle of July.  Few things are more beautiful.

There’s one more scrimmage on Saturday.