The Capitals have two of the 23 Jewish players attending NHL training camps around the league.

ARLINGTON, V.A. — As Andrew Cristall and Chase Priskie chase their NHL dreams with the Washington Capitals, the two prospects hold something in common: their faith.

Both Cristall and Priskie are of Jewish descent and are two of 23 Jewish players attending NHL training camps across the league. And with training camp underway, both are holding their religion close while chasing their NHL dreams.

"It's definitely in my background," Cristall said matter-of-factly.

"Top 10 Jewish defensemen in the NHL and I'm not number 10, so that's good," Priskie joked, adding, "There's no question [it's important]."

Cristall was born to two Jewish parents in Vancouver; His father, Alex, is a real estate developer who helped raise funds for the city's Jewish community campus, and his mother, Jodi, is a high school teacher. Before attending St. George's to pursue his hockey career, he was a stuent at Talmud Torah Elementary School (and was his school's "Mensch of the Month" in 2014). He grew up observing Judaism and had his Bar Mitzvah when he was 13, and during his time developing in Kelowna, he observed the holidays when he could.

Taken 40th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, Cristall was the only Jewish player selected in his class.

"It definitely means a lot," Cristall said. 

Priskie's upbringing saw him heavily involved with the Jewish faith. His father was an Orthodox Jew and kosher, and Priskie attended Hebrew school for eight years before having his Bar Mitzvah. On his hockey journey, the Quinnipiac alum has worked hard to balance his career with observing the high holidays, including Yom Kippur and Passover.

It can prove to be a challenge, though, especially with the Yom Kippur fast falling in the middle of NHL training camps and the preseason.

"It's obviously different everywhere. Las year, it fell on a game day for me, so it becomes difficult to make that decision. But ultimately, I wasn't gonna pass up an opportunity to play in an NHL game, so I decided to do that. But years where it's fallen on a practice day or day off, I kind of always observed," Priskie said, adding, "Becomes a little difficult being on the road or this and that, but Yom Kippur is an easy one."

Both Cristall and Priskie chose to fast this year and were invited to assistant general manager Don Fishman's house to break the fast. Priskie's usual go-to break-the-fast meal is pastrami on rye and matzoh ball soup. Cristall's favorite Jewish food is challah bread.

"The stars were aligned [with this training camp] so I could start Sunday night, which is perfect, but I'd definitely be hungry if I were playing in a game or just practicing," Priskie said. "You just have to load up at lunch, it'd be okay. I can do it."

For Cristall, getting the opportunity to be a role model for aspiring Jewish players holds a lot of significance, especially since he had his own NHL Jewish role model growing up: Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman, who wears No. 18 because it is a lucky number in Judaism.

"There's guys that I've looked at before... you always kind of have those guys in your head when you watch on TV," Cristall said. "Hopefully, one day, I can be that guy; it'd be pretty special. It's something I won't take very lightly."

And for Priskie, who wore the "C" at Quinnipiac University and has a handful of NHL games under his belt, he's worked hard to give back to the community and be the player young Jewish players can look up to and said that a lot of it comes down to living the right way.

"For me, it's just continuing to try to be a role model in my own way and just continue to do things the right way," Priskie said. "I think a lot of it is what you're doing when people aren't looking; that kind of moulds who you are. So for me, It's just putting my best foot forward and doing the right things day in and day out and anything I can do to help, I'm always available."