As the local figure skating community grieves last month’s mid-air crash over the Potomac, MedStar Capitals Iceplex has enlisted therapy dogs to offer comfort and support.
Dogs from the nationwide nonprofit Canine Companions paid skaters a visit to the facility in Ballston last week and have planned another visit planned this Sunday, program manager Caitlin Bradley told ARLnow.
“Being able to provide the athletes time to just sit down and hug on a therapy dog before and in between practice does much,” she said.
The ice rink at 627 N. Glebe Road has become a place for the community to gather and express their sorrow over the past month, with a special memorial on the second floor commemorating the lives lost.
About 20 passengers aboard the American Airlines flight that crashed in midair near Reagan National Airport were competitive figure skaters or coaches, including children.
Some held ties to the Northern Virginia skating community, which is organizing a figure skating tribute at D.C.’s Capital One Arena on Sunday, March 2 to raise funds for families and loved ones of those killed.
After the collision, which claimed the lives of 67 people, the Iceplex hosted a private candlelit skate for local skating clubs to honor the lives and memories of the victims. The skating rink has also created a memorial on its second floor for members of the public who wish to pay their respects.
“We are heartbroken for our rink family as well as the entire figure skating world,” the skating rink said in a press release last month.
A GoFundMe created by CRP Management, the facilities manager of MedStar and the Ashburn Ice House, has collected over $135,000 for those affected since Feb. 1.
While the Canine Companions visits have so far been limited to skaters and coaches, the organization has planned a few public outings.
The therapy dog teams will provide support at a public memorial skate at the Iceplex at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 1, and appear at U.S. Figure Skating’s memorial tribute, Legacy on Ice, at the Capital One Arena on Sunday, March 2.
