Thursday evenings in Arlington, Virginia, now hum with the rhythm of youth hockey, a stark contrast to previous decades. The Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia metropolitan region, commonly called the DMV, historically lacked a natural affinity for hockey despite being a bustling metropolitan area akin to cities like New York and Boston. Since the Washington Capitals’ inception in 1974, hockey remained overshadowed by popular local sports teams such as the Redskins and Bullets.

That long-standing dynamic shifted dramatically on June 26, 2004, when the Capitals selected Alexander Ovechkin as the first overall draft pick. Ovechkin’s arrival sparked a seismic change in the area’s relationship with hockey—amplifying interest, participation, and recognition on both national and international stages. This transformation is most clearly seen in the rapid increase of youth hockey players in the DMV, signaling the region’s emergence as a rising hockey powerhouse.

From New Fans to Aspiring Players: Growing Youth Participation

At the MedStar Capitals Iceplex on any given Thursday night, a vibrant scene unfolds as young players arrive for practice, equipment in hand, accompanied by supportive families. Inside the arena, drills focused on foot speed, breakouts, and stickhandling engage the players, while parents watch attentively from behind the glass.

Nicholas Ortiz exemplifies the newfound passion hockey has inspired in the DMV. Reflecting on his journey, Ortiz shares,

“Ovi came to town. The Capitals became good. I got hooked and started playing myself,”

—Nicholas Ortiz, Parent. He and his wife Nadina Kezel, originally from the hockey-centric culture of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, were eager to pass the sport to their children Landon and Jaxon.

Kezel adds,

“They were going to play hockey,”

—Nadina Kezel, Parent, emphasizing the Capitals’ success in engaging families unfamiliar with hockey and in increasing participation among women and first-generation fans, who represent about half of the parents involved in the Capitals Hockey Academy.

These personal narratives align with stark participation trends in the region. From the 2005-06 season through 2023-24, youth hockey registration in the Potomac Valley—USA Hockey’s official label for the DMV—increased by 43%, soaring from 8,975 to 12,801 players. Washington, D.C., itself experienced an extraordinary 187% growth in youth hockey enrollment, positioning it third nationwide in growth rate.

In comparison, the national youth hockey player base grew only 10% in the same timeframe. The DMV’s rise dwarfs other emerging markets such as Texas and Idaho, and even outpaces historic hockey states like New York (with a 4% increase), Minnesota (16%), and Massachusetts, which saw a 5.5% decline. Maryland and Virginia also made significant strides, seeing 27% and 53% increases, respectively.

This growth has increased the DMV’s share of the country’s youth hockey players from 2.6% to 3.3% over these years, illustrating the region’s expanding influence in the sport.

DMV Becomes a Global Hub for Youth Hockey Talent

The DMV is not only producing more hockey players but attracting international talent eager to compete in its programs. Notable examples include Russian players Prokhor Pankratov, Gleb Semenko, and Konstantin Yurkov, who left premier Russian development programs to join Team Maryland, one of the region’s two Tier 1 hockey outfits.

Pankratov reflects on the move, saying,

“We wanted to test our skills in the US,”

—Prokhor Pankratov, Youth Hockey Player, while acknowledging differences in style but appreciating the intensity and pace here. Their presence at Piney Orchard Arena in Odenton, Maryland signals the conversion of increased player numbers into higher competitive quality in the region.

Robbie Morden, Hockey Director at Team Maryland, emphasizes their ambition:

“We don’t want to be good for the DMV, we want to be objectively good,”

—Robbie Morden, Hockey Director. This means attracting elite talent from beyond the DMV and persuading local youth to commit to hockey over other sports.

Morden notes inspiration from Ovechkin and the Capitals has played a massive role in this shift. The cohort of players who joined around the Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup win are now key contributors to the U18 team, with some advancing to major junior hockey leagues. He further states,

“If Ovechkin never played for the Washington Capitals, perceptional-wise––exact same coaches, exact same program, exact same billet setup––it would be a lot more difficult to get Russian players to want to live in DC,”

—Robbie Morden, Hockey Director, underscoring Ovechkin’s critical role in attracting international athletes and enhancing the DMV’s hockey credibility.

Collaborative Efforts Drive Youth Hockey’s Wide Reach

The DMV’s hockey boom required more than Ovechkin’s presence—it arose from concerted efforts by local hockey organizations, USA Hockey administrators, and the Capitals’ franchise itself. Scott Paluch, the American Development Model’s regional manager for the DMV, explains,

“When you get a generational player like Ovi, certainly the awareness is there, and people want to be a part of it… but if they don’t have an enjoyable experience with it, they’re not going to stay in it. I think that’s a credit to both the Capitals and the youth hockey leaders in the DMV that have been able to capture what Alexander has been able to do and the buzz that he’s been able to create,”

—Scott Paluch, Regional Manager, highlighting the importance of enjoyable youth programs.

The Capitals have implemented various initiatives to sustain growth. Their Learn to Play program, launched in 2016, supplies complete hockey gear to newcomers and has introduced over 9,000 players to the sport, with more than 700 participating in just the last six months. Since 2019, over 25,400 individual youth players have taken part in Capitals-affiliated events, illustrating ongoing engagement efforts.

Girls’ hockey has seen remarkable advancements as well. Registered female players under 19 in the Potomac Valley region climbed by 173%, while Maryland experienced a dramatic 326% increase. Kush Sidhu, founder of the Washington Pride—the area’s sole Tier 1 girls’ hockey program—credits the Capitals for supporting growth among female players, stating,

“[The Capitals] really put a lot of thought into how to encourage girls to play, how to get women to watch hockey, how to get them involved in playing hockey. That’s helped a lot,”

—Kush Sidhu, Founder of Washington Pride.

Beyond numbers, the Capitals’ closer engagement with the community fosters a lasting hockey culture. Christian Bisetti, a first-generation fan, shares a moment from the Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup run when his son Adriel, a goalie for the Capitals Hockey Academy U14 team, met former Capitals goalie Braden Holtby. Bisetti recounts recently encountering Holtby again, who happily recreated the photo opportunity years later, exemplifying the personal connections the team maintains within the youth hockey community.

Similarly, Nadina Kezel highlights Capitals players’ willingness to connect by signing autographs and encouraging youngsters. Sidhu points out the organization’s efforts in organizing free female clinics and facilitating visits from NCAA teams, further nurturing the next generation.

The Enduring Impact of Alex Ovechkin on DMV Hockey

While the youth hockey growth in the DMV reflects a collective achievement, Alex Ovechkin remains the central figure behind this transformation. Those familiar with him emphasize his approachable, family-oriented nature despite his superstar status in the hockey world.

Kezel’s family even has a goal counter dedicated to Ovechkin at home. She jokingly recalls nearly persuading him to participate in a Caps Hockey Academy parents-versus-kids game. Christian Bisetti regularly sees Ovechkin and his wife Anastasia in the stands, watching their young son Sergei play youth hockey at MedStar Iceplex.

Konstantin Yurkov notes that practicing on the same ice as Ovechkin at Piney Orchard Arena provides significant motivation and perspective for local players. Kush Sidhu observes,

“His accomplishments, I wouldn’t say we take him for granted, but we’re just so used to it now. We’re just so used to everything that he does that I guess there’s an expectation for him to do great things,”

—Kush Sidhu, Founder of Washington Pride.

Looking ahead, questions arise about hockey’s future in the DMV once Ovechkin retires. Yet, the young players leaving practice under his banner show a promising legacy. They appear ready to uphold the momentum and passion that Ovechkin ignited, suggesting the region’s growth in hockey will continue beyond his final shift.