We were on the ice this weekend at the Ballston Kettler Complex for Dreams for Kids DC’s fourth annual Extreme Recess: Hockey with the Washington Capitals. Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation partners with DFK every year to host children with disabilities and volunteers for some rink time. We snapped the Caps Aaron Volpatti and Andre Burakovsky flanking hockey player Hannah Diamond. She is one of just a few girls who play hockey on the DC Sled Sharks.
Caps coach Barry Trotz, father to a disabled child himself, is with DFK-DC founder Glenda Fu. He told us that as a special needs parent, he appreciates events like these to bring children out of their shell; the action stimulates creativity and confidence.
DFK hosts a number of Extreme Recess clinics with various area teams over the course of the year, creating life-changing and empowering experiences, always for free. Here, DC Sled Sharks coach Brian Dutton joined players Connor Delaney, John McGraw and Alex Green. By turning adversity into opportunity, the kids are given the confidence that they they can achieve their dreams.
Dreams for Kids hosted close to 100 children for a day of fun, to play hockey and meet local sports heroes. Here, Caps player Karl Alzner with Mikaela Morris and her sister Kaitlin.
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