About The Little Capitals

The Washington Little Capitals (WLC) are a USA Hockey Tier I youth hockey organization based out of the new Kettler Capitals Iceplex (KCI) in Arlington County, Virginia.  KCI is the brand new training home of the NHL Washington Capitals.

Tier I youth hockey is set up to provide the elite youth hockey player an environment in which he/she can consistently develop and challenge his/her skills.  In theory, Tier I organizations should serve a number of Tier II youth clubs in a regional area.  Within the Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association (local USA Hockey governing body), new affiliate rules have granted Tier I status to the WLC and Team Maryland, which are both members of the prestigious Atlantic Youth Hockey League (AYHL). 

The WLC has always done one thing and one thing only -- offer Tier I youth hockey as a member of the AYHL, which is one of, if not the, premier Tier I hockey leagues in the United States.  The AYHL has a storied history and provides the players in this area excellent competition within driving distance from the Washington metropolitan area.   The WLC is a policy-driven organization that is set up to serve the players and coaches in terms of development on the ice and off.  

Historically the Little Capitals have been a nomadic organization, often playing out of two, three and even four separate rinks during the course of a season.  With the new KCI facility, the Little Caps have not only found a permanant home from which to hang their banners, but a state-of-the-art facility located in the heart of Northern Virginia.  KCI is convenient for many suburban Washington families including Fairfax, Loudoun, Alexandria, Prince William and even south toward Richmond.

Besides the change in venue, the Little Capitals also came under new leadership, from top-to-bottom, during the winter of 2007.  Longtime franchise owner and charter WLC member John Osidach sold his league franchise to Virginia WLC, LLC, whose sole proprietor is rink owner and hockey enthusiast Brian Cullen.  Osidach, one of the pioneers of youth hockey in the Washington area, will remain involved as a consultant.  Cullen is the owner of the Ashburn Ice House and was a founding board member of the Ashburn Xtreme.

The re-vamping continued when the Little Capitals and the Virginia Statesmen formally agreed on a working relationship.  Per a signed agreement, the Little Capitals will be the sole Tier I hockey organization in Northern Virginia, while Nate Smith, President of the Statesmen, has become a member of the WLC Board of Directors.  The cooperation of the two organizations will help to immediately benefit all travel hockey players in Northern Virginia, both at the Tier I and Tier II levels.  

In addition, The Little Capitals and their AYHL counterparts, Team Maryland, also signed an agreement that pledges cooperation and symmetry in the operation of the two organizations.  TM and WLC won't be mirror images of each other, but each organization has agreed to a working set of principles that will lend to a better travel hockey environment in the entire Washington region.
 
Over the years the Little Caps have produced numerous college and professional hockey players like the Dallas Stars' Jeff Halpern, NHL-signee Stephen Werner, former New Hampshire and current ECHL player Tyler Scott, former Northeastern defenseman and ECHL Kelly Cup winner Tim Judy, current New Hampshire player Jamie Fritsch, former Union and current UHL player Scott Seney,  just to name a few.  Jeremy Roenick even got early travel hockey experience with the Little Caps.  For a comprehensive list of WLC Alumni, please visit our WLC History & Alumni page.

Questions about Tier I hockey in this area or the Little Capitals can be directed to WashingtonLittleCaps@Comcast.net.