Bondra, Burton Share Love of Hockey at ACDS

Former Washington Capitals players Peter Bondra and Nelson Burton visited Alexandria Country Day School on Russell Road on Wednesday afternoon to teach students in grades three through eight about floor hockey. 

The event was part of the Capitals Hockey School program, designed to be both instructional and interactive with the goal of exposing students to floor hockey while teaching proper technique.

Bondra, one of just 42 players in National Hockey League history to score 500 goals, and Burton, a longtime minor league player who saw time in eight games with the Caps in the 1977-78 season, answered questions from students about how they learned the game, how much they practiced and shared memories from their careers.

Bondra, a Slovakian, and Burton, a Canadian, said they first learned the game off the ice, then learned to skate as they got a little older.

“Skating was something for more wealthy families,” said Burton, who didn’t learn to skate until he was 8 or 9.  

Bondra and Burton also directed a floor hockey session in the school’s gym with more than 150 students.

The Capitals donated a set of street hockey equipment to the school. Students were also provided with autographs and other keepsakes.

The Capitals host two Hockey School visits each month between September and May and donate street hockey equipment to each participating school.