The Washington Capitals announced via press release today the date for their inaugural Capitals Alumni Game, Sept. 23 at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.  At the Alumni Game at the Winter Classic last season, Caps fans that made the trip to Pittsburgh were treated to see Caps favorites like Peter Bondra, Craig Laughlin and Don Beaupre lace up their skates once again.  Based on the success of that event, the Caps will host their own event in conjunction with the upcoming Capitals Convention.

For long-time fans of the organization, this is a dream come true to see so many former Caps gathered in one place and actually skate again.

Seating is limited at Kettler for the game, so make sure to get your tickets when they go on sale Aug. 24.

Here's the full press release from the team:

Gartner, Bondra and Johansson Highlight Inaugural Caps Alumni Game

Alumni game will kick off Caps Convention weekend on Friday, September 23, at Kettler Capitals Iceplex

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals will host the inaugural Capitals Alumni Game at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. The game will include several popular former Capitals players and will kick of the 2011 Capitals Convention weekend festivities.

The game will feature “Team Langway” facing off against “Team Laughlin.” Participating alumni are scheduled to include, Hall of Famer Mike Gartner, former All-Stars Peter Bondra, Don Beaupre and Dennis Maruk as well as former Caps Calle Johansson, Greg Adams, Alan May, Mark Lofthouse, Yvon Labre, Gord Lane, Jason Woolley, John Druce, Sylvain Cote, Paul Mulvey, Alan Hangsleben, Nelson Burton, Errol Rausse, Gary Rissling, and Ken Sabourin.

Recently retired NHL referee Bill McCreary will officiate the game. McCreary began his 25-year NHL officiating career on Nov. 3, 1984 at the Capital Center in Landover, Maryland and picked the Verizon Center to referee his final NHL game on April 2, 2011.

Tickets are $10 with all proceeds benefiting Capitals Charities. You must be a Caps Convention ticket holder to purchase Capitals Alumni Game tickets. Tickets go on sale Aug. 24 at 10 a.m. and are limited and sold on a first-come, first-served basis. A convention ticket does not guarantee an alumni game ticket. To purchase tickets, please visit WashingtonCaps.com.

In addition, the alumni game will be the first opportunity to purchase Caps Convention merchandise. Attendees will also have a chance to pick up their autograph wristbands at the game.

The 2011 Capitals Convention, presented by GEICO, will take place the following day at the Washington Convention Center. The event has been a tremendous success in its first two years, attracting sold-out crowds of more than 6,500 to the day-long interactive and informational celebration of the Capitals, which features the entire roster of current players and a number of prominent alumni.

Upcoming Capitals Events

Tuesday, Sept. 20 Baltimore Hockey Classic at 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore, Md.

Friday, Sept. 23 Inaugural Caps Alumni Game

Saturday, Sept. 24 2011 Capitals Convention presented by GEICO

Saturday, Oct. 8 Opening Night vs. the Carolina Hurricanes

In conjunction with my blogger brethren Adam Vingan of Kings of Leonsis, we present a point-counterpoint on which new member of the Washington Capitals in under the most pressure this upcoming season.  Adam thinks winger Joel Ward has a target on his back, I think it's veteran goalie Tomas Vokoun. 

Later this week we'll take a look at which veteran Caps player fits that description.  As always, your comments and debate are welcome in the comments section.  Which of the new Caps do you think is under the most pressure to succeed this season?

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On the surface, it might not look like Tomas Vokoun has anything to prove. A ninth round pick in the 1994 entry draft, Vokoun, 35, has been proving himself his entire career. He has posted 262 wins in parts of 13 seasons in his NHL career with a robust .917 save percentage and 2.56 goals against average in 632 career games. Last season, playing for one of the worst teams in the league, he finished sixth in shutouts and tenth in save percentage, facing the 11th most shots of any goaltender. Not bad for the 226th overall selection in 1994 -- it must have been a deep draft.

Vokoun has been the best player on some pretty bad teams his entire NHL career, toiling in Nashville from 1998 to 2007, then backstopping the mostly woeful Florida Panthers for the last four seasons. His 11 career playoff games can attest to the lousiness of the teams he's had to play for. He's tasted glory representing his homeland of the Czech Republic, guiding them in World Cup play and two Olympics, but he's never had the chance to play for a championship on any level. Presumably, the plan is to rectify that this season.

The microscope will not only be on Vokoun the player, but also the very idea that the Caps (finally, in some eyes) went out and acquired a "No. 1 goalie". Since Olie Kolzig left the organization as a player following the 2007-08 season, the Caps relied first on Jose Theodore, but quickly turned to their pair of homegrown baby goalies, Semyon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth. When GM George McPhee traded Varlamov to Colorado in July, McPhee announced they were perfectly happy going into the season with Neuvirth -- who carried this team much of last season -- and Braden Holtby, another raw, but extremely talented, home-schooled netminder. But then, Vokoun fell into McPhee's lap during the free agency period, accepting a much-below market one-year deal to join the perennially contending Caps.

Vokoun automatically becomes the No. 1 goalie in D.C. His experience, reputation and success in the league on poor clubs dictates that he'll be "the man" between the pipes this season, with Neuvirth garnering 20-25 starts and Holtby learning to control his emotions and honing his craft in Hershey, under the tutelage of the former player he most resembles -- Kolzig -- back in the fold at Kettler as the newly appointed Associate Goaltender Coach. But playing time is not assumed. Vokoun must keep Neuvirth and Holtby at bey while being a mentor and leading the team, all at the same time.

The Capitals are past the expectation phase of their development with the fan base and around the league. McPhee made significant changes to the lineup, adding grit and strength -- especially on the wings -- and this team now has the label of "Stanley Cup or bust" tattooed on their foreheads. Vokoun not only is under pressure to perform and succeed for his current employer, but at 35 years of age, Vokoun will be auditioning for what will most likely be his last good contract next off-season. A Stanley Cup would certainly be the crowning achievement on his resume and whether he is to stay in D.C. or take his services elsewhere, a long playoff run could add a zero to the end of the salary portion of his contract.

Hockey in July? Yes, definitely. I think it is safe to say that the DC area is a "hockey town." There were an estimated 3000 fans at Kettler Iceplex to watch the Washington Capitals Development Camp wrap up on Saturday, July 16, 2011 with an intrasquad scrimmage and Fan Fest. [DevCampGuide]

Head Coach Bruce Boudreau and GM George McPhee addressed the media after the scrimmage as well as several prospects. 

Team A (Red) won 5-2 over Team B (White). The following photographs visually summarize the scrimmage. 

All Photos 2011 © Cheryl Nichols/Caps News Network. All Rights Reserved.

TALKING TO THE MEDIA:

Vice President & GM George McPhee

Head Coach Bruce Boudreau

Forward Cody Eakin

Forward Danick Paquette

Forward Mattias Sjogren

Goalie Philipp Grubauer

Forward Garrett Mitchell

Goalie Brandon Anderson

Defenseman Scott Wietecha

Forward Travis Boyd

Forward Stanislav Galiev

Defenseman Dmitri Orlov

GROUP A:

Forwards: Cody Eakin, Pat Mullane, Luke Lockhart, Garrett Mitchell, Michael Collins, David Civitarese, Andrew Cherniwchan, Samuel Henley, Chase Grant, Dmitry Kugryshev, Thomas Frazee, Taylor Stefishmen.

Defensemen: Garrett Haar, Patrick Koudys, Luke Eibler, Patrick Wey, Samuel Carrier, Dustin Stevenson, Wade Epp, Jimmy Oligny.

Goalies: Philipp Grubauer and Steffen Soberg


GROUP B:

Forwards: Mattias Sjogren, Brock Montpetit, Danick Paquette, Stanislav Galiev, Travis Boyd, Greg Burke, Mitch Elliot, Garrett Ross, Cameron Burt, Caleb Herbert, Aaron Schmit, T.J. Syner, Reid Edmondson, Adam Mitchell.

Defensemen: Brett Flemming, Scott Wietecha, Conor Allen, Mike Boivin, Kyle Follmer, Dmitri Orlov, Karl Stollery, Nick Tabisz.

Goalies: Brandon Anderson and Jacob Gervais-Chouinard

Stevenson and Schmit Fight

Wes Johnson fired up the crowd after scrimmage

All Photos 2011 © Cheryl Nichols/Caps News Network. All Rights Reserved.