Patrick Giles, a Chevy Chase, Maryland native, is set to play his 13th NHL game with the San Jose Sharks, facing his childhood favorite team, the Washington Capitals. Less than a week after scoring his first NHL goal, he reflects on his early fandom, which included celebrating the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup victory. Giles' path to the NHL included time in the US National Development Program and four years at Boston College, making him one of few Marylanders to score and play professionally in the NHL.
"I grew up right outside of DC and grew up a huge Caps fan... it was right when [Ovechkin] was getting drafted and starting his career with Washington."
Giles' story echoes that of former Capitals forward Joe Snively, who also attended Landon School before making his NHL debut.
"I was downtown right outside the [arena] because the game was in Vegas and it was packed," said Giles about the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup win.
Only a week after scoring his first NHL goal, Giles is set to play against the Capitals, the team he grew up idolizing.
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