LIFESTYLES | DINEANDDISH
Post Game:
DISHINGWITHTHECAPITALS
The Capitals’ young bucks, right wing Tom Wilson and center Michael Latta, spill about their bromance,
what it’s like to be the only single guys and how they plan to bring the Stanley Cup to Washington
B Y L A U R A WA I N M A N
OPENER GAME THIS YEAR. WHAT IS
hen you sit down for
THE RELATIONSHIP LIKE WITHIN THE
drinks in Ballston
WASHINGTON ATHLETE COMMUNITY?
with 21-year-old Tom
TW: I think there’s a quiet respect.
Wilson and 24-year-old Michael
The fans kind of bring everybody
Latta and they argue over who is
together.You meet people who are
the better ping-pong player and
just big D.C. fans all around and
tease one another about their
they are talking about the Skins
social media habits, it can be easy
or the Wizards and Nats. It’s cool
to forget they aren’t just your
for the athletes to kind of support
average 20-something roommates.
each other.
But these days the Washington
ML: We do different community
Capitals’ resident physical forwards
events together too. We did a
can’t even post an Instagram photo
Wounded Warriors event with the
of themselves lying on the couch
basketball players a couple years
watching TV without getting 200
ago and that was cool to bounce
comments about their lifestyle or
questions off them and see what
appearance. The duo have one of
Tom Wilson, Laura Wainman and Michael Latta talk hockey over a dinner of shared
t heir lives are like.
the most talked about friendships
small plates at Kapnos Taverna. (Photo by Tony Powell)
(seriously, there’s even a Tumblr fan
page for the Latta-Wilson bromance) in the ML: I needed someone to cook for me every HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SUPPORT THE CAPS
AND THE SPORT OF HOCKEY GET IN WASHINGTON?
city and with personalities as large as theirs, it’s night.
not hard to see why. Over Greek small plates TW: Nah, we’re pretty good at sharing ML: I came from a different organization and
I had no idea how loud the fans would be
at Kapnos Taverna, the guys dished on who everything. It’s just nice having a roommate.
loves Justin Bieber, team pickups and trades ML: I didn’t want to live alone. We don’t have here. When we were at the Redskins game
and how they are moving past a disappointing family around or girlfriends or whatever. It’s this weekend, people were stopping us and
good to have someone to hang out with.
wishing us good luck this season and it was
playoff run.
TW: It can be a long year if you don’t have a awesome.
TW: I grew up in a hockey crazy town,
SINCE THE AIRING OF EPIX’S “ROAD TO THE NHL roommate and you’re living alone.
Toronto, and the fans are all out for the
WINTER CLASSIC” THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK
ABOUT YOUR “BROMANCE.” WHAT LED TO YOUR WHAT’S THE TEAM DYNAMIC LIKE? DO YOU SPEND A hockey. Sometimes in hockey crazy towns it
LOT OF TIME TOGETHER?
can be overwhelming, but in D.C. they love
BOND?
Tom Wilson: When we both came to the team ML: It’s kind of different because most guys their Caps but they are respectful and they
we were the young crew, there weren’t a lot of have families and stuff. So if we have off days don’t cross that line.
other young guys.
they want to spend it with their kids.
Michael Latta: We were forced to hang out TW: On the road we’ll hang out. We get up, IF YOU COULD ACCOMPLISH ONE THING BEFORE YOU
together.
go to practice and then we have nothing to do LEAVE WASHINGTON WHAT WOULD IT BE?
TW: Latts was my only choice so we made it the rest of the day whereas the rest of the team TW: We’ve gotta win the Stanley Cup.
work.
has to go take care of their kids or pick them ML: It’s been our dream since we were five
ML: We won the lottery there.
year olds playing hockey in the driveway and
up from school.
ML: I just take care of Willy.
now we’ve made it here, and have a team that
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BE ROOMMATES?
YOU GUYS WENT TO THE REDSKINS SEASON could actually do it.
W
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WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
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