United Arab Emirates - future hockey superpower? @FatimaAl_Ali practices with the Caps today #HockeyIsForEveryone pic.twitter.com/9OoCjIUGwh
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 8, 2017
Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Fatima Al Ali is no stranger to the frozen floor.
But she was a stranger to the Washington Capitals, until this week. Al Ali, who is from Abu Dhabi, showed off her skills Wednesday at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex.
Fatima shoots and scores at #Caps practice! pic.twitter.com/ztKqCAkJCU
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 8, 2017
Al Ali, 27, is a member of the United Arab Emirates' women's national hockey team. The Washington Capitals fan met former Capitals player Peter Bondra in November in Abu Dhabi. After displaying her skills, Bondra and the Capitals arranged a visit.
This is Fatima. She represents the UAE on their women's national team & it's safe to say she has better hands than me! @Capitals @MSE @NHL pic.twitter.com/m4N2IddeRl
— Peter Bondra (@PeterBondra12) November 13, 2016
She arrived on Monday night to watch the Washington Wizards face the Cleveland Cavaliers. She then attended the Capitals' 5-0 win Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. After the game she met all of her favorite players, including superstar Alex Ovechkin.
"We are going to have a surprise for her. The Washington Capitals, Monumental Sports Entertainment, and Etihad Airways," Bondra said in a November video. He later Skyped Al Ali and told her of the surprise to fly her to Washington, D.C., bringing her to tears.
Ovi presents Fatima with a signed game-used stick! #Caps pic.twitter.com/uHoeJKFWkF
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 8, 2017
The event was also part of the NHL's celebration of Hockey Is For Everyone month. Al Ali also dropped the puck for the Capitals game Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings.
#Caps captain Alex Ovechkin talks with the media about skating today with Fatima Al Ali, part of Hockey is for Everyone Month. #CapsHIFE pic.twitter.com/q8iWhwAhEr
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 8, 2017
"I did not expect my dream would come true," Al Ali told Monumental Sports Net. "This is unreal. I don't believe all of this happened. Even if I see the video over and over again, I won't believe that this happened to me."
Al Ali is the first female sports photographer in the United Arab Emirates.
"We talked about how many years she has practicing," Ovechkin told the Capitals website. "How many weeks they have. It's pretty impressive."
"She has a dream and it's good to have the kind of people who help her to come here and meet the players."
Bondra was in Abu Dhabi originally after being invited to play in the Presidents' Cup tournament, which included the Emirates Hockey League All-Stars as well as squads from Belarus, the Czech Republic and the Republic of Georgia. Bondra put on a two-day camp while he was there, representing the Capitals. He noticed Al Ali while he was being interviewed.
#Caps alum @PeterBondra12 presents Fatima Al Ali with a jersey prior to Fatima joining the team on ice pic.twitter.com/SXiRlgZYrQ
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 8, 2017
"She stepped on the ice with no skates on and she started puck-handling," Bondra told NHL.com. "I stopped doing the interview and said, 'Hold it. Let me see what's going on here.'"
Watch as @FatimaAl_Ali experiences her first @Capitals game (a 5-0 shutout!) and meets @Ovi8 @TjOshie77 & more in the locker room. #CapsHIFE pic.twitter.com/FLKcYmhHBL
— MonumentalSportsNet (@MonSportsNet) February 9, 2017Advertisement