Everyone in Washington, it seems, is scoring these days.
Not only do the Capitals boast one of the NHL's top attacks, their 3.4 goals-per-game average is the third best in the league, even the franchise's marketing department is coming up big.
For the second consecutive year, the Capitals have teamed up with the D.C-area nonprofit Homeward Trails Animal Rescue to create a dog calendar featuring players posing with adorable pooches.
Some images from the photo shoot have leaked, and they are super cute:
It's just Alex Ovechkin and a puppy for the @washcaps calendar benefitting animal rescue. pic.twitter.com/ur5PyidHLg
— HoldenKushner (@Holdenradio) October 17, 2014
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#CapsCanineCalendar shoot with Braden Holtby and Hogan from Homeward Trails Animal Rescue
Not only did the players look good, they were advocating a worthy cause. Homeward Trails Animal Rescue provides adoption services in the Virginia, Maryland and DC area.
“Animals don’t have a voice,” defenseman Karl Alzner, whose three dogs joined him at the shoot, told For The Win. “A lot of times, animals get overlooked. They can’t say, ‘Oh, I need this, I need help.’ People seem to think that they can almost push them aside and not worry about them. “This just brings a little more awareness. There are so many dogs that need help.”
Here's a video from the photo shoot:
Washington is following a time-honored tradition of hockey players joining forces with dogs for a good cause. The Pittsburgh Penguins are also teaming with a charity for their 2015 Penguins and Paws calendar, while the Chicago Blackhawks did a shoot for 2014. In fact, if you just can't get enough of photos of hockey players with their pets, check out this blog devoted to that very subject.
The Capitals' 2015 calendar will be available in December.
