Washington Capitals Open Registration for Kids to Learn Hockey at Mount Vernon RECenter

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Children in the Alexandria area can learn to play hockey through a Washington Capitals youth program offered close to home at Mount Vernon RECenter.

Registration is now open for the 2026-27 Future Caps Learn to Play program, which will hold sessions at the Fairfax County facility at 2017 Belle View Blvd. and 17 other ice rinks across Virginia and Maryland.

The program is designed for children ages 5 to 9 who have never participated in organized ice hockey. The program includes eight age-appropriate on-ice classes and instruction from certified coaches. Each participant also receives a free set of head-to-toe hockey equipment to keep, including skates, a helmet, stick, jersey, socks, shoulder and elbow pads, gloves, hockey pants and shin guards.

Although the equipment is free, families pay a participation fee to help cover ice time and coaching. The official Learn to Play website lists fees ranging from $279 to $349, depending on the rink. The exact 2026-27 fee for the Mount Vernon RECenter session will appear during registration, says the website.

Participants will also receive a welcome video from Capitals forward and Learn to Play ambassador Aliaksei Protas.

Who Can Participate?

Future Caps is strictly an introductory program for children who are new to organized hockey. Participants must complete a Learn to Skate program at a local rink before registering.

Children who have previously played in an organized ice hockey program or received a USA Hockey membership number are not eligible. Players may register for and participate in Future Caps only once.

The Capitals said additional rinks and sessions could be added during the 2026-27 season.

Mount Vernon RECenter is operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority but has an Alexandria mailing address. Its renovated ice arena features two NHL-size rinks—the Red Rink and Blue Rink—along with locker rooms, skate rentals and skate-sharpening services.

The expanded facility reopened following a major renovation that added a second rink and upgraded the original ice rink, pool, locker rooms and other building systems.

More Than 12,000 Children Introduced to Hockey

Future Caps was developed in collaboration with the National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association through the Industry Growth Fund. The initiative is intended to give families a consistent and welcoming introduction to youth hockey.

“World Wide Technology is proud to continue our partnership with the Future Caps Learn to Play program, giving kids across the Washington, D.C., region an accessible way to fall in love with hockey,” said Scot Gagnon, vice president of federal for World Wide Technology, the program’s presenting sponsor.

“Programs like this reflect what we value most as a company—investing in the communities where our people live and work,” Gagnon said. “Helping the next generation build confidence, teamwork and character on and off the ice is exactly why we’re excited to be part of this program.”

The program introduced more than 1,500 children to hockey during the 2025-26 season. Since Future Caps launched in 2016, more than 12,000 players have taken part, according to the Capitals.

USA Hockey reports substantial growth in the sport across the Washington region since the Capitals drafted Alex Ovechkin. The number of registered youth and adult players in Washington, D.C., increased by more than 220% from the 2005-06 season through 2025-26.

During the same period, the number of registered girls and women players across Virginia, Maryland and the District increased by 225%. USA Hockey’s Southeastern District, which includes those jurisdictions and nine other states, ranked first in registrations for the 2025-26 season.

Families can learn more and register through Capitals Youth Hockey. Information about the rink and its skating programs is available through the Mount Vernon RECenter Ice Arena.