Head Coach Oates Shops For Toys For Local Area Charities

  • By Brendan Sheridan
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Adam Oates along with Monumental Sports helped shop for toys at a local area Toys R Us to help local area charities with providing to less fortunate kids during the holidays. It's not confirmed at this time if Oates was using this time to also shop for his favorite lego set. According to the Caps press release, 428 toys were gathered outside of the Verizon Center before the AHL Showcase late last week.

Capitals Official Press Release

ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals head coach Adam Oates shopped for toys at the Toys“R”Us in Bailey’s Crossroads, Va., to benefit The Salvation Army and the Capitals Toy Drive presented by GEICO at the Washington AHL Showcase on Thursday, Dec. 6. Oates was joined by Comcast SportsNet’s Joe Beninati, Maj. Lewis Reckline, area commander for The Salvation Army National Capital Area Command, Capitals mascot Slapshot, Red Rockers and the GEICO Gecko.

Together the group spent more than $10,000 on more than 350 toys. Funds for the shopping spree were donated by the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation. “The opportunity to purchase as many toys as we could and distribute them to children and their families for the holidays is fantastic,” said Oates. “We tried to touch on all age groups, both boys and girls, and it was a lot of fun to be part of such an excellent cause.”

Following the Toys“R”Us spree, the Washington Capitals, GEICO, Comcast SportsNet, Elliot in the Morning and The Salvation Army teamed up to host the Capitals 13th-annual toy drive at the Washington AHL Showcase featuring the Capitals’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Hershey Bears, and the Norfolk Admirals. Fans donated 428 toys in support of the drive, in addition to donating more than $300. All of the toys bought at Toys“R”Us and collected during the Capitals toy drive will be distributed as holiday gifts in the Washington, D.C., area, ensuring 277 local children will receive presents for the holidays. The shopping trip marked the fourth-consecutive year the Capitals have shopped for toys during the holidays at Toys“R”Us.

A fan donates toys to the Capitals 13th-annual toy drive during the Washington AHL Showcase on Dec. 6, 2012. More than 400 toys were collected and will be distributed to area families. (Photo via Washington Capitals)

Washington Capitals head coach Adam Oates shops for toys at Toys“R”Us on Dec. 6, 2012 to benefit The Salvation Army and the Washington Capitals Toy Drive presented by GEICO. More than 350 toys were purchased for area children. (Photo via Washington Capitals)

Washington Capitals head coach Adam Oates fills a shopping cart with toys during a Toys“R”Us shopping spree. More than $10,000 was spent on toys to benefit The Salvation Army and the Washington Capitals Toy Drive presented by GEICO. (Photo via Washington Capitals)

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