1997 would mark many changes for the Washington Capitals, and one of them would be that of a new home.
Memories of the Capital Centre
As November came to a close, so did the Washington Capitals tenure in the only home they knew, the Capital Centre, then known as US Airways Arena. As the Capitals prepared to play their final game at the US Airways Arena, some of them shared their memories or where they had called home since 1974.
“I think everybody’s relieved to get out of here,” goalie Bill Ranford said. “It was real hard because it was so dark. I’m looking forward to getting to the new building that may be the way to get some excitement about hockey in this city.”
“I’ve had some good memories here, like the four-overtime playoff game against Pittsburgh [in 1996], but really there’s no sadness about leaving,” goalie Olaf Kolzig said. “When you think about it, there really hasn’t been any [hockey] history made in this building. Maybe that’s what we really need, a change of scenery, and by playing in the MCI Center, maybe we can do that and establish some history.”
“We [Ray Bourque and I] always hated this building,” forward Adam Oates, who was traded to the Washington Capitals in March 1997 from the Boston Bruins, said. “After five minutes of every period, the ice is just junk. Nothing comes easily here, and when you’re the team that has to play here 40 times, it’s going to hurt you, especially offensively.”
Forward Kelly Miller, who up to that point played 823 games in a Washington sweater, a franchise record at the time, noted he would miss the Capital Centre. “We’ve had a lot of good hardworking teams in here, with guys coming to play hard every night,” Miller said. “I think it sometimes gets lost that when the building first started out, it was state of the art. When you look at some of the new buildings you don’t look [at] ours in the same light, but I think for its time it was a great building, and now it’s time to move on.”
November 26th, 1997 v. Montreal
On October 29th, 1997, the Washington Capitals announced they would be retiring former defenseman and captain Rod Langway’s number 5 to the rafters as part of their final game at US Airways Arena, formerly known as the Capital Centre, on November 26th, 1997. The Capitals wanted the ceremony to take place in the building where Langway played all 11 seasons he was a Capital. The opponent was the perfect one for such an occasion too; the Montreal Canadiens, the team the Capitals got Langway from in a blockbuster trade on September 10th, 1982.
“He was made captain the day he got here, and that tells it all,” former teammate, and also part of the blockbuster trade, Craig Laughlin said. “The tough, hardworking reputation that the Capitals have today came from him. This is long overdue for a guy that I think in future years is going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I’m glad they’ve done whatever it took to reconcile things between him and the organization.”
Langway was previously on poor terms with the club after being benched in the middle of the 1992-93 season. While the rift lasted for a few years, it was somewhat repaired when George McPhee replaced David Poile as general manager. “Rod did a lot for this organization,” said captain Dale Hunter, who was Langway’s teammate for six seasons. “He basically took a team that was in big trouble to the established team it is today.”
Langway’s number 5 would become the second number to be retired in Capitals history. Defenseman Yvon Labre’s number 7 is the other.
On November 26th, 1997, the Washington Capitals played their final game at US Airways Arena, and they did not get the result they were hoping for as they fell to the Montreal Canadiens 6-5. Richard Zednik scored two goals, and Peter Bondra’s point streak continued as he scored his team-leading 17th goal of the season.
“Well, we won’t be able to say it’s the curse of the building anymore,” coach Ron Wilson said. “We outshot them, we outchanced them, but they scored more than us, so what can you say? We gave a great effort in the third period, but their goalie made four or five huge saves to keep us a goal down.”
Defenseman Mark Tinordi scored the last Capitals goal at US Airways Arena. The goal was assisted by forwards Dale Hunter and Kelly Miller. The goal was also the last goal to ever be scored at US Airways Arena.
After the game was completed, balloons dropped from the arena’s ceiling while the Capitals skated a final lap around the ice with “Auld Lang Syne” playing on the arena’s sound system. However, fans had to be at the game to see Rod Langway’s number 5 retired to the rafters, and the exciting game between the Capitals and Canadiens to close out their tenure at US Airways Arena, because the game was not televised. Due to the TV contract at the time, HTS owned the Capitals TV rights, and they aired 42 games that season, with another 10 going to Channel 50.
Due to contractual obligations for both HTS and Channel 50, they were unable to put the Capitals game on television. “The game just couldn’t fit into the schedule once all the contractual obligations were met,” HTS spokesman Ted Ewancu said. “It’s unfortunate we basically had to bypass a big game… We tried to find other [free TV] coverage. No other station was interested.”
Unfortunately for the Capitals, the Washington Wizards of the NBA had precedence on HTS because they were producing more ad revenue and had a larger audience than the Capitals.
The Washington Capitals played 977 games in their 24 years at the Capital Centre/US Airways Arena.
December 5th, 1997 v. Florida Panthers
On December 5th, 1997, the Washington Capitals played in their inaugural game at the MCI Center against the Florida Panthers. The game featured Vice President Al Gore, and his wife Tipper, special introductions, a laser light show, and a speech from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
“It’s neat to see those kind of guys,” forward Chris Simon said. “For me, growing up in a small town, I’ve never seen too many superstars or people I idolized, so it’s just a pleasure to meet people like that. We told [Gore] any time he wants to come, he’s welcome.”
In the first period, Panthers forward Steve Washburn scored the first ever goal at the MCI Center. Then in the second period, Capitals forward Richard Zednik scored the first ever Capitals goal at the MCI Center. Zednik’s goal was assisted by forwards Steve Konowalchuk and Jan Bulis.
“We didn’t get off on the right foot in the first period, but I think we were a little tight and nervous,” Wilson said. “You want to win because it’s home and our first game. It’s a little more hoopla than our team is normally used to. Our guys were taken aback a little bit, outside of our routine.”
In the third period both the Capitals and Panthers traded goals as the game went to overtime, tied at two. In the extra frame, forward Jeff Toms scored the first ever overtime game winning goal at the MCI Center.
“He proved my practices don’t mean a thing,” coach Ron Wilson joked. Toms missed the previous two practices to collect his belongings in Florida. “This is the best feeling in the world when you win in overtime–the other team doesn’t have a chance to tie it. It’s an exhilarating feeling. Jeff Toms has been really working hard since he’s been here, and to get rewarded like that the first night in this building is something he’ll always remember.”
Capitals goaltender Olaf Kolzig made 26 saves on 28 shots faced in the Capitals 3-2 overtime victory over the Panthers.
With the Capitals out of US Airways Arena, and settled in at MCI Center, the Capitals skate into the second third of their season. Stay tuned for Chapter 7 – 2nd Third of the Season.
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RESOURCES
- Alexander, Rachel. “Before They Close Door, No. 5 Will Reach Rafters,” October 30, 1997. https://montgomery.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/hnpwashingtonpost/historical-newspapers/capitals-notebook/docview/1454356733/sem-2?accountid=47412.
- Alexander, Rachel. “Capitals Grounded in US Airways Finale, 6-5,” November 27, 1997. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/11/27/capitals-grounded-in-us-airways-finale-6-5/4dcfb8ac-6f3a-4b46-9462-083f639ed3f3/.
- Shapiro, Leonard. “For Channel 4, Money Talks When It Comes to Frerotte,” November 28, 1997. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/11/28/for-channel-4-money-talks-when-it-comes-to-frerotte/ea07be16-ea51-4a2e-892e-ce5273b5c08c/.
- Alexander, Rachel. “Caps Have a Star for Their New Stage,” December 5, 1997. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/12/06/caps-have-a-star-for-their-new-stage/3cfc2a68-8044-4e9a-8fe0-198100a59cc7/.
- Alexander, Rachel. “Ranford Is Restless and Ready,” December 7, 1997. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/12/07/ranford-is-restless-and-ready/ef8c6d4b-ed57-407a-86c9-1e23b6d87928/.
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