A somber tribute took place at Capital One Arena Saturday as the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning honored victims of last month’s devastating Flight 5342 crash.
Players from both teams wore special decals featuring a heart containing both a figure skate and hockey skate, along with the date January 29 – when the unthinkable happened just minutes from the nation’s capital.
That evening, American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport. All 67 people aboard were killed, including several prominent members of the figure skating community.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy,” U.S. Figure Skating said in an emotional statement. “We hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.”
The impact on the skating world has been profound. Many of those lost were headed to a major competition, their dreams cut tragically short just miles from their destination.
But the hockey community is stepping up to help.
The Capitals announced they’ll host “Legacy on Ice” on Sunday – a special two-hour tribute featuring both current and former figure skating champions. All proceeds will go directly to the victims’ families.
It’s a reminder that even in the darkest moments, the sports world comes together as one family.
Fans wanting to support the cause can find ticket information on the Capitals’ website.
