Capitals host minority youth hockey academy

ARLINGTON, Va. (7News) — Dozens of minority youth hockey players got an experience they'll never forget. The Washington Capitals hosting 115 players for a two-day Rising Stars Academy at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. The co-ed program was created to provide elite skill development and mentorship for local hockey minority players.

"I wanted to do a black hockey summit for parents and players. I shared it with Pete Robertson. And he said that we had too honestly it takes time to build something like that," Washington DC native and former Fort DuPont Cannons player Duante' Abercrombie, who most recently served as the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs coaching development associate, served as this weekend's lead instructor.

"Washington Capitals decided that they wanted to start a black hockey committee use the Capital Impact Fund to be able to enrich the local hockey community and this was one of the first seasons we thought that we wanted to do an academy for young individuals in the Washington DC area," Abercrombie added.

The camp had on-ice sessions designed to be similar to drills that professional players participate in during practice. Academy participants also had off-ice sessions focusing on hockey culture and race in the sport.

Abercrombie boasted the impact of the program, "I believe in making things tangible and me seeing my career. Me seeing Anson Carter growing up, allowed players like myself to want to try this sport. Now individuals see me and now we have instead of 20 individuals which we thought, we have over 100 individuals in our Rising Stars Academy."

"Seeing people who look like me succeed in hockey," Academy participant Langston Knotts telling 7News about the impact of the program.

The players also got to soak in the wisdom of USA Hockey Hall of Famer and Fort DuPont Cannons founder and coach Neal Henderson.

"I think mainly for me, the main reason for me doing what I'm doing is to give a child an idea." says Neal Henderson.

"To look at it as a way of having fun. Being able to communicate, other than a language. Being able to be a part of society, in a way that you can communicate, understand and be a part of and not be unnoticed,"
Henderson added.

"He taught us a lot about just keeping our heads up whether someone calls you something, or treats you bad just because of the way you look," 12-year-old Avery Hylton on learning from Coach Henderson.

The free camp funded by the Capitals Capital Impact Fund aiming to help create a more equal playing field in hockey. The other off-ice sessions included: fitness, nutrition, mental health, and conflict resolution.

Among the instructors, Gonzaga College High School ice hockey coach Bryan King and other area youth hockey coaches.

Abercrombie adding, "I'm personally not surprised by the amount of individuals that wanted to participate. But, I think the decision makers and the movers and shakers so to speak in the hockey world are and that's the reason for doing this."