Washington Capitals Alumnus and Coach Hold Hockey School at Flower Valley Elementary

Washington Capitals alumnus Alan Hangsleben, assistant coach Tim Hunter and mascot Slapshot brought Capitals Hockey School to Flower Valley Elementary School in Rockville on Friday.

The free, instructional and interactive program exposes students to floor hockey while teaching proper technique.

The 170 fourth- and fifth-grade students opened the session with questions for Hanglesben, a defenseman who played for the Capitals from 1979 to 1982, and Hunter, who returned to the Capitals this year as an assistant under new head coach Adam Oates. Hunter previously served as an assistant coach from 1997 to 2002.

Hanglesben and Hunter then instructed students on basic hockey skills, including stick-handling, passing and shooting. Several students took part in a "girls vs. boys" scrimmage, with Hangsleben representing the girls team and Hunter representing the boys team. The scrimmage ended in a 1-1 tie.

“I loved the enthusiasm of the kids,” Hunter said. “They were listening and paying attention during the drills we showed them. I think they all improved a little bit.”

The Capitals donated a set of street hockey equipment to Flower Valley and a Capitals Hockey School banner to display in the school gymnasium. Students received an autographed alumni card, a "Hockey 101" booklet and a Capitals squishy puck.

This is the sixth consecutive year the Capitals have conducted the Hockey School program. The more than 70 clinics have reached more than 10,000 students.