On Frozen Blog

A Thank You Postcard from Development Camp

By Gustafsson Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Karl,

You could not have known that it was a blogger’s son that enthusiastically waved to you and the others during the Development Camp Scrimmage Pre-Game Warmup. Heck, that little boy doesn’t even know what a blog is … much less that his dad blogs about the Capitals and Alex Ovechkin with “the eight by itself”. He was disappointed at first when I told him he would not see Ovechkin, Green, or Semin and quickly forgot when we arrived at Kettler.

I told him how you had a great shot at playing with the Caps this year and he was looking out for number “four seven”. He spotted your number and immediately started waving. When you turned and smiled at him, he quickly turned to me and said “He looked at me!” with a wide smile.

Then you skated over with a puck and tossed it over the glass to him. The puck has been well used with many nicks and gashes. That well used puck is now well loved as he was extremely excited about his gift from Karl Alzner. It’s fun with a small child experiencing so much joy from such small actions or things.

He has been to a Hershey Bears game and countless Capitals games. He told me that Saturday was the “best ever”. The moonbounce outside helped that declaration as well.

As a father, fan, and hockey blogger, thank you for brightening a boy’s day, showing us your skills on the ice, and being a great player to blog about. Number “eight by itself” may always be his favourite, but he is looking out for number “four seven” now, too.

Warmest regards,

-g

Karl Alzner
c/o Washington Capitals
627 N Glebe Rd
Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203
USA

21 Comments

Brett wrote:

Outstanding

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 8:00 am | Permalink
pucksandbooks wrote:

A Hallmark Hockey moment if ever I saw one!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 8:19 am | Permalink
Tyler wrote:

If he’d known it was a random blogger’s kid he probably would have given him a car! Or a house! Maybe even a whole country!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 8:22 am | Permalink
Aaron S. wrote:

Great post!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 8:39 am | Permalink
ryptide wrote:

That’s just awesome.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 8:57 am | Permalink
vt caps fan wrote:

I think the picture just says it all.

Awesome post. Alzner’s just won a fan for life with this story.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 10:04 am | Permalink
Muddapucker wrote:

Thanks for reducing the game to its lowest common denominator. Its really what its all about.

It puts me in mind of the old adage that, “Never does a man stand so tall as when he stoops to help a boy.”

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 10:44 am | Permalink
puddin_an_semin wrote:

Thats adorable, and even better because you caught a pix 0f it!!! Great story

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 10:50 am | Permalink
dmg wrote:

It’s amazing how every single time I read something about Karl Alzner I like him even more.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 11:12 am | Permalink
Tyler wrote:

Back to reality: Who cares how many pucks he tosses over the glass if in October he turns the puck over 10 times a game?

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 11:38 am | Permalink
Tyler wrote:

OK, that came out more callously than I meant it. But the lowest common denominator is winning hockey games. I agree that Kid Karl’s got the right stuff on and off the ice *so far,* but I wanna see more.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 11:47 am | Permalink
Burgh wrote:

Awesome pic.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 11:48 am | Permalink
Kim wrote:

I saw a quote once that went something like: Sports do not build character they reveal it.

Lucky for us, we have a team that has an abundance of character to go with their amazing talent.

As a mom whose son and daughter have also been on the receiving end of smiles and pucks from players they adore, I can’t even begin to tell you how much that picture made me smile.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 12:06 pm | Permalink
pucksandbooks wrote:

Kim, I think you’re on to something with this team. I think one reason Washington responded as it did last spring to Bruce’s boys was a basic likability about them. I’m not sure you can draft for it, but once you have it, you have to guard it, which is why I think we’ve seen GMGM be as aggressive in re-upping as he has this summer.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 3:16 pm | Permalink
Joe wrote:

That’s pretty awesome. Definitely heartwarming.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 3:42 pm | Permalink
Kim wrote:

I think it comes from leading by example. I think all of the leaders on this team fit that bill. I also think a lot of it comes from building from the ground up and growing and becoming good together.

Of course, some of it was probably just luck that we got the personalities that we did.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 3:45 pm | Permalink
NS2NOVA wrote:

It’s players like this that will keep the fan base coming back year after year, regardless of how the season goes. Approachable, supportive and willing to give a bit of time to the people that matter the most - the young fans.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 7:20 pm | Permalink
Flipper wrote:

Hockey players never cease to amaze me with how connected they are to the fans and how down to earth they are.

Thanks for sharing the picture and story with us.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 10:12 pm | Permalink
M wrote:

Thats awesome! Everytime I read something about Alzner I like him more and more. His personality and approach to the game make him seem older than his 19 years. I cant wait to see if he is on the roster at the beginning of the season.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 10:29 am | Permalink
Sombrero Guy wrote:

Awesome. Alzner seems like a genuinely good dude.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 12:02 pm | Permalink
Doug wrote:

I’ve noticed the fact that most of our hockey players seem like down to earth, decent guys. Mike Green took the time to visit with my wife and I in the Ballston mall before a practice one time. He didn’t have to do that — and he just seemed very real and decent. I have a friend with small boys and he said Ovechkin spent a couple of minutes chatting to his kids and signed stuff for them.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 10:35 pm | Permalink