The Washington Capitals are dedicated to further advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in hockey. The Rising Stars Academy provides elite skill development and mentorship for local hockey players of color and their families. The program emphasizes physical and mental strength and includes social discussions around the culture of hockey.

Be ready - be willing - be respectful - be a Rising Star!

The Rising Stars Academy (RSA) was established to serve as the bridge to higher level hockey that many players in the DMV have needed for decades. The RSA provides athletes with elite-level training in the hopes of developing professional habits and skills that will translate into every aspect of a player's life both on and off the ice. RSA athletes are expected to be prepared, work hard, and respect both the opportunities provided and the world around them. 

Interested players are encouraged to join the Rising Stars Academy community using the link below. 

COST: There is no fee to participate. The Rising Stars Academy is funded by the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation Capital Impact Fund.

Registration does not guarantee participation for the academy.  Capitals Youth Hockey Development will review all submissions and contact players regarding attendance and participation. 

Duante' Abercrombie is a member of the Capitals’ Black Hockey Committee, and served as the Coaching Development Associate for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2022-23 season. He is also an inaugural member of the National Hockey League Coaches’ Association’s BIPOC Coaches Program. In 2021, he was invited by the Arizona Coyotes to be a guest coach at their Rookie Development Camp which was highlighted in the show 'NHL Bound.'  Duante' was also selected to participate in the Boston Bruins Scouting Mentorship Program. Prior to joining the Maple Leafs coaching staff, Abercrombie served in roles as Stevenson University's assistant ice hockey coach and as the Washington Little Caps' Director of Player Achievement. In April, Duante' was hired as the first HBCU Men's Hockey Head Coach at Tennessee State University.

Abercrombie is an alumnus of Gonzaga College High School, including winning multiple championships as a player and a coach. He also coached at Georgetown Preparatory School, and in his first year, he helped lead his team to its first IAC Championship. At the age of six, Abercrombie began playing hockey with the Fort DuPont Cannons at Washington D.C.'s Fort Dupont Ice Arena. 

Duante' is a native of Washington, DC. He is married to his wife, Melanie, and they have two children. A son, Patrick, and a daughter, Ava.