Capitals coach Spencer Carbery reflects on hockey success and a lifelong passion for golf
interview by CHRIS LANG
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Capitals coach Spencer Carbery reflects on hockey success and a lifelong passion for golf
For the full interview, scan the QR code or visit VSGA. org. SPENCER CARBERY won’ t turn 44 until November, but the Washington Capitals head coach— currently the third-youngest in the NHL behind San Jose’ s Ryan Warsofsky( 37) and Pittsburgh’ s Dan Muse( 43)— has already built an impressive coaching résumé.
Carbery and the Capitals capped an impressive 2024-25 season by winning the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference regular-season titles before falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the playoffs. His efforts earned him the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’ s top coach, becoming just the fourth Capitals coach to receive the honor, joining Barry Trotz( 2015-16), Bruce Boudreau( 2007-08) and Bryan Murray( 1983-84). Success didn’ t come out of nowhere. Carbery also won minorleague coach of the year awards in Hershey( AHL) and South Carolina( ECHL), building a reputation for development and leadership.
Hockey has been in Carbery’ s blood since he was young, but golf has always been part of his life. An active VSGA member with a 6.8 Handicap Index ® as of early August, he was introduced to the game by his father Bryan, a former touring and teaching pro who helped launch the golf program at the University of Victoria in British Columbia. Carbery posted his best score( 69) when he was 14. These days, he’ s content breaking 80 and simply enjoying time outdoors.
Virginia Golfer caught up with Carbery in late June, during a rare lull in the NHL calendar between the playoffs and offseason duties. Excerpts from that conversation, edited for brevity, are on the following page.
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