"After Carbery gave much-deserved plaudits to two-goal scorer Aliaksei Protas and starting goaltender Logan Thompson, he stopped to ensure someone who didn't play in the game received some recognition: interim assistant coach Patrick Wellar. "One more thing," Carbery yelled before grabbing a game puck. "This young man, his first win in the National Hockey League. Patrick Wellar." The Capitals' locker room exploded into cheers as a sheepish Wellar accepted the puck from Carbery. While the puck exchanged hands, players chanted for Wellar to give a speech,"
""This is a special group," Wellar said. "It's my life's honor to be a part of it." Wellar, 41, is with the Capitals as a temporary part of Washington's coaching staff while the NHL continues its investigation into assistant coach Mitch Love, who has been on team-imposed leave since mid-September. The Saskatoon native has been an assistant coach in the AHL with the Hershey Bears since 2018, spending three seasons (2018-2021) on Carbery's staff."
The Washington Capitals defeated the New York Islanders 4-2 to earn their first win of the 2025-26 season. Head coach Spencer Carbery delivered his first postgame locker-room victory speech and publicly recognized interim assistant coach Patrick Wellar for his first NHL win. Carbery grabbed a game puck and announced Wellar’s milestone, prompting loud cheers and teammates urging Wellar to speak. Wellar delivered a brief speech calling the group special and expressing honor to be part of it. Wellar, 41, is serving temporarily while the NHL investigates assistant coach Mitch Love. Wellar previously coached in the AHL with Hershey and played professionally for 21 seasons.
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