Sky-high Arlington rink hosts hockey contenders.
Last August, Arlington fans got their first look at the players who will make up the USA Hockey team at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi when USA Hockey held its National Team Orientation Camp at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.
“We’ve hosted USA Hockey’s national youth teams for ages 17 and 18 on their way to international competitions, so they’re familiar with our facility,” says Beth Lenz, general manager of the Iceplex, a public skating rink that also houses the Washington Capitals’ training facility. Perched atop the eighth floor of the parking garage of the Ballston Commons Mall, the $42.8 million facility is one of the highest elevated ice rinks in the U.S.
Forty-eight players from across the U.S. were invited to the orientation camp. From this number, 25 were selected for the Olympic team at the 2014 NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor in January, including John Carlson, defenseman of the Capitals.
USA Hockey’s young team had an unexpectedly strong showing in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, when it took home a silver medal in a hard-fought (and unexpected), overtime final against Canada. Some are murmuring that gold may be in USA Hockey’s future, something we haven’t seen since the legendary 1980 final against the Soviet Union. Keep your fingers crossed for another miracle!
