originally appeared on
WASHINGTON – For the first time in months, and for the last time in months, there was hockey to be played at Capital One Arena.
The Capitals concluded their development camp week with a scrimmage, which Team Red won 5-3. For some, it was a fun return to an NHL arena before training camp commences in September. For others, it was a first look at hockey in a big-time arena.
Development camp – which started on Monday and concluded Friday – capped a busy week for Washington before things slow down over the next six weeks.
鈥淯nreal, lots of fun,鈥� defenseman Vincent Iorio said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of a dream, a fever dream a little bit. You grow up as a kid, myself watching (Alex) Ovechkin and John Carlson and (T.J.) Oshie and all these guys, and then you鈥檙e realizing you鈥檙e playing on the same rink as them. It鈥檚 something very special.鈥�
Iorio, the team鈥檚 second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, is one of the select prospects at development camp who will be at training camp in September. He鈥檒l travel home and rest for a few days before beginning his training regiment.
Another player who will be with the team at camp in September is Hendrix Lapierre, who scored a goal for Team Red on Friday.
Lapierre played six games for the Capitals last season before being sent back to his team, Acadie-Bathurst Titan, in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
鈥淚t was a great experience,鈥� Lapierre said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always fun to come here. It brings back good memories every time I come in that building, about my first game and the time I spent with the team at the beginning of the year. It was great to see the fans once again, and I think everyone had a blast.鈥�
There were a few players that got to see the spotlight for the first time, like Peter Laviolette聽鈥� no, not the coach of the Capitals, but his son.
Laviolette played for Plymouth State at the Division III level last season and had perhaps the highlight of the night when he batted the puck out of the air and into the net.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been the best week of my life so far,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his has been a dream come true, just getting to be here. I know my dad鈥檚 the coach and I have the same name and everything, but for me to come and be my own person and show my own skill and play a little bit of hockey and show everybody I can play here, it鈥檚 just an honor. I鈥檝e loved every second of this week, it鈥檚 been one of the best weeks of my life, I just couldn鈥檛 be happier right now.鈥�
The scrimmage did not feature Ivan Miroshnichenko, the team鈥檚 20th overall selection from last week鈥檚 draft. He is recovering from Hodgkin鈥檚 Lymphoma and has only recently begun skating. He was, however, in attendance signing autographs for fans.
The Capitals did have other 2022 draft choices on the ice, including defenseman Ryan Chesley, forwards Jake Karabela, Ryan Hofer, Ludwig Persson, Alexander Suzdalev and defenseman David Gucciardi.
That diversity and meeting new people was what stuck out to Iorio, who formed a quick rapport with Lapierre, as he got to be on the same ice for a week with players from all over the world.
鈥淲e all come from different cultures,鈥� Iorio said. 鈥淗ank Hanelt, he comes from Germany. Lappy is from Quebec and I鈥檓 from Western Canada. Just a mix of all the different guys, we all kind of clicked together.鈥�
