More Pictures From Development Camp

I wasn't able to get out to Kettler on Thursday due to obligations at work. I will be at the scrimmage on Friday and will have an update posted by Friday night. In the meantime here are some more pictures from Wednesday night.

Dan Dunn, Goaltender
The Capitals 6th Round Choice, #154 Overall in 2007

Viktor Dovgan, Defenseman
5 goals, 6 assists, 11 points for South Carolina Last Year

Justin Mrazek, Goaltender
The Capitals 8th Round Pick in 2004

Head Coach Glen Hanlon
Behind the Bench of the Blue Team

Defenseman Karl Alzner
The Capitals 1st Round Pick, 5th Overall in 2007

Defenseman Josh Godfrey
The Capitals 2nd Round Pick, 34th Overall in 2007

Michal Neuvirth, Goaltender
The Capitals 2nd Round Pick, 34th Overall in 2006

Daren Machesney, Goaltender
5-8-2, 3.30 gaa, .888 sv % in 16 games with South Carolina
3-3-1, 3.18 gaa, .887 sv % in 10 games with Hershey

Theo Ruth, Defenseman
The Capitals 2nd Round Pick, 46th Overall in 2007

A Viktor Dovgan Interview

An interview with the Capitals' young defensive prospect courtesy of The Post and Courier at www.Charleston.net.

One-on-One with Viktor Dovgan

(Photo Courtesy of www.ECHL.com)

South Carolina Stingrays rookie Viktor Dovgan is playing his first season of professional hockey in the United States. A native of Moscow, Dovgan was a seventh-round draft pick of the Washington Capitals in 2005. Dovgan is taking classes to improve his English, but needed the help of interpreter Walter Jankov when he went one-on-one with The Post and Courier's Andrew Miller.

What do you think of the United States?
"I love America. I love playing here. The United States is much cleaner than Russia.
All the people are very nice."

What do you like the most about Charleston?
"I haven't seen as much of Charleston as I would like. I would like to get out more and see more of the city. I love the people here in Charleston. I love the weather. In Moscow right now, it's very cold, so I'm glad to be here."

You and your wife (Oksana) had a baby boy in December. What's it like to be a new father?
"I love it. It's super. I don't see Ilya enough. He and Oksana are back in Moscow, but every time I'm on the ice he is in my heart. I miss him ? a lot. It's very tough to be away from him."

Why didn't you bring Oksana to the U. S.?
"When I signed with Washington, Oksana was pregnant, so I couldn't bring her with me. I'm on the road all the time now, so it's probably best that she didn't come this season. But it's tough. I miss her.
I miss Ilya. I went home to Moscow to see them over Christmas. I was there about two weeks. It was very difficult to leave them and come back to play hockey.

You've scored three goals this season. What was it like to get your first professional goal?
"It was super. I got a beautiful pass from Cail MacLean and I took the shot and I was lucky it went in."

Do you consider yourself more of an offensive defenseman or a stay-at-home defenseman?
"I think of myself as more of an offensive defenseman. I like to join the rush and get into the play."

Is the hockey played differently in North America?
"In North America, once you get to the blue line you have to give up the puck and dump it in and then everyone goes and chases it. In Russia, you don't do that. You get to the blue line and you don't dump the puck. You skate with the puck, you move the puck and try to make plays."

Capitalism or Communism?
"No communism. Capitalism ( laughing)."

Mikhail Gorbachev or Vladimir Putin?
"Putin."

Anna Kournikova or Maria Sharapova?
"I love Sharapova."

Who was your favorite Russian player growing up?
"Sergei Gonchar. I like the way he moved the puck. I liked Darius Kasparaitis as well."

What's your favorite American music?
"I like rap. No country."

Do you have an iPod and how many songs do you have?
"Yes. About 400. I've got some American music and some Russian music on there."

Got a favorite American movie?
"I mostly like comedies. But I liked Spider Man, too."

What was the feeling in Russia about the 1980 ?Miracle on Ice' Olympic hockey game between the United States and the Soviet Union?
"I think the Russian team took the U. S. too lightly. They didn't think the Americans could beat them. Some people in Russia think they lost the game on purpose to make their coach look bad. I don't think so. They just underestimated the college players. They came on the ice and didn't think they could lose."

Sunday Morning Reaction

Win or loose there is always a lesson to be learned. Some of the lessons that were learned last night.

• This team has a long way to go before they can just show up and compete based on their talent alone.
  
• They have not been playing Capitals hockey as of late. The entire league used to talk about how the Caps worked hard every night. How they would outplay their opponent even if they didn't win. So far the tread this New Year is that the Caps are being outplayed consistently, and are relying on Ovechkin and Semin to make spectacular plays in order to keep them in the game.
• The Caps have repeatedly gotten off to slow starts. Having to play catch-up in most games.
• The Panthers had the Caps well scouted. And executed their game plan to perfection. This is the type of performance that the rest of the league can look at and emulate. The Capitals will need to make adjustments in their scheme as well as individually.
• Sometimes a game like this can be a good thing in the long run. Hopefully it will cause the team to refocus and analyze the what they need to do to improve.
• Calling all fans of hockey: The NHL is back on NBC, and let's face it, they are desperate for ratings. Their first broadcast yesterday saw on intensely competitive game between the Flyers and Penguins. The addition of Brett Hull to the broadcast booth also provided a much needed boost to the analysis of the game.
  
• A great article from Linda Cohn about the NHL schedule. Click here to read.
  

Down on the Farm:
The Hershey Bears finished up their season-long five game road trip with a 5-2 loss at Bridgeport. The Bears were playing with a depleted lineup as six players were absent from the lineup. Trevor Byrne, Dean Arsene, Matt Hendricks, Chad Wiseman, and Sasha Pokulok all missed Friday's game in addition to last night's tilt. Pete Vandermeer suffered a broken leg Friday and will be out indefinitely. The lone bright spot of the night was the performance of Alexandre Giroux, who accounted for both Bears' scores giving him 29 goals on the season. He is currently tied for second in the AHL in goals. The Hershey Bears return to action this evening at home against the Albany River Rats, game-time 5:00 PM. If you are able to get to the game the first 5,000 fans through the gates Sunday will receive a free team photograph of the 2006-07 team. Or visit http://www.hersheypa.com/events/hershey_bears/index.php to catch all the action live online via b2networks.
The South Carolina Stingrays avenged Friday night's loss by defeating the first place Florida Everblades 5-3 in front of 6,453 fans at Germain Arena. The Stingrays were led by their Captain Cail MacLean and Capitals prospect Viktor Dovgan who each netted two goals in route to the victory. From Stingrayshockey.com: “We challenged the guys in the second intermission and they responded perfectly,” South Carolina coach Jason Fitzsimmons said. “Dovgan was flying and got rewarded with a pair of goals. It’s nice to head into the All-Star break on a positive note.” The Stingrays return to action on Friday with a game at the Charlotte Checkers, game-time 7:00 PM.