Kayla Vespa has cheered on the Washington Capitals and Alex Ovechkin for years. Now, she's preparing to step on the ice at Capital One Arena in Washington herself as a professional hockey hockey player in a full circle moment.
Kayla Vespa grew up in Canada, but she's been a life long Washington Capitals fan, cheering on the Caps, and specifically her favorite player Alex Ovechkin through her teenage years.
Now, the 28-year-old New York Sirens forward will go from fan, watching the Washington Capitals play on television, to playing in Washington at Capital One Arena as a professional hockey player herself.
Vespa and the Sirens will make the PWHL's first ever stop in Washington, DC this weekend as part of the PWHL Takeover Tour against the Montreal Victoire.
"It means everything," said Vespa of the opportunity to play in the market. "I grew up as an Alex Ovechkin fan, and then it just became easy to follow the Capitals. Great organization...a great hockey market, and to be able to play at the Capital One Arena, I think the fans are gonna bring the energy, it's gonna be electric."
Vespa, who hails from Hamilton, Ontario, played her minor hockey for Stoney Creek, before playing NCAA hockey at St. Lawrence University. After three seasons in the PWHPA, Vespa was drafted by PWHL New York in the inaugural PWHL Draft, and has remained with the organization since.
She's gone from playing in mostly empty venues, to helping the PWHL grow the sport on the PWHL Takeover Tour in packed arenas across North America. The crowd in Washington is close to a sell out at the 18,573 Capital One Arena.
I've only watched them play on TV, so to be able to be there at an NHL venue just shows how much the game has grown.
"I'm so excited. It's definitely a full circle moment, just growing up watching them on TV, and now to be able to be at Capital One with all the fans, we're grateful and honored to be doing that," said Vespa.
She also believes Washington could be a market where the league thrives, as the city already supports other professional women's sports.
"It's a great hockey market, but also, growing the women's game is super important, and Washington, D.C. is where it's at," she said, pointing to the Washington Spirit and Washington Mystics.
Puck drop between the New York Sirens and Montreal Victoire at Capital One Arena in Washington is 2pm, Sunday, January 18.