Washington Capitals Host 2026 Rising Stars Academy

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 24, 2026) – The Washington Capitals hosted Rising Stars Academy clinics on August 14 and 15. Rising Stars is a co-ed program established to provide elite skill development and mentorship for local hockey players from underrepresented communities. More than 120 participants between the ages of 7-18 participated in the academy, which focused on physical and mental strength as well as discussions around leadership. The Rising Stars Academy is offered at no cost to participants and is open to all skill levels.

Tennessee State University ice hockey head coach Duante’ Abercrombie and St. John’s College High School and Loudoun Knights ice hockey coach Bryan King served as the Rising Stars Academy lead instructors.

The August camp also featured instruction from 15 Capitals Youth Hockey Development (CYHD) coaches and staff, as well as instructors Toni Smith, Howard University graduate and former member of the university’s figure skating team; Lexi Sung, former Washington Pride player and former assistant captain of the Rochester Institute of Technology NCAA Division I women’s hockey team; Mariya Rauf, former Washington Pride player and current captain of Yale University’s NCAA Division I women’s hockey team; and Tri-City Eagles coaches Bill Palmer and Dave Tran.

The clinics included on- and off-ice sessions. On-ice sessions focused on skill development and compete drills, while off-ice sessions focused on dryland training, team building exercises, and meaningful conversations around leadership.

The clinic marked the seventh Rising Stars Academy conducted by the Capitals. The inaugural Academy was held in August 2023, with participation by more than 100 athletes.

The Rising Stars Academy is funded through the Washington Capitals Capital Impact Fund. In 2020, the Capitals and Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation created the Capital Impact Fund to provide grants to organizations that assist in eliminating cost barriers faced by underrepresented individuals in the hockey community. The fund aims to help underrepresented youth players reach their greatest potential and create more equal playing fields for all.

Lead Instructor Bios

Bryan King is a Washington, D.C. native, hockey coach, and community leader committed to expanding access to the game. His hockey journey began at Fort Dupont Ice Arena before continuing at La Salle University, where he played collegiate hockey and earned ACHA Division II All-Star recognition.

A USA Hockey Level 5 Certified Coach and Coaching Developer, Bryan has spent more than 12 years developing athletes throughout the DMV. His coaching experience includes Fort Dupont Cannons, Gonzaga College High School, the Washington Little Capitals, St. John’s College High School, and the Loudoun Knights.

Beyond coaching, Bryan champions youth development through community partnerships, camps and clinics. His mission is to use hockey as a vehicle for access, mentorship, leadership, confidence, and lifelong opportunity for young people throughout DC and the surrounding areas.

Duante’ Abercrombie was named head coach of the Tennessee State University men’s hockey team in 2024, becoming the first head coach of a hockey program at a historically Black college or university (HBCU) and the first Black male to lead an NCAA Division I team. A Washington, D.C., native and product of the Fort Dupont Cannons, Duante’ began his hockey journey at age six and has since become one of the sport’s most respected advocates for player development and diversity in hockey.

Abercrombie has extensive experience with NHL organizations, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, and Arizona Coyotes. His work with the Coyotes was chronicled in ESPN’s NHL Bound, highlighting his journey to diversify the hockey coaching ranks. An inaugural member of the NHL Coaches’ Association’s BIPOC Coaches Program, Abercrombie has been mentored by prominent Black hockey figures like Neal Henderson, a U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, and Graeme Townshend, the NHL’s first Jamaican-born player. Recognized on The Athletic’s 2020 40-Under-40 list for shaping hockey’s future, he was also nominated for the Washington Capitals’ 2024 Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award for his work with Rising Stars Academy.