Washington Capitals players celebrate being 'girl dads.'

ARLINGTON, V.A. — Several players from the Washington Capitals hockey team are proudly embracing their roles as "girl dads." These fathers, including Dylan McIlrath, Dylan Strome, and Nic Dowd, are sharing joyful experiences that come from raising daughters. McIlrath, a 6-foot-5 enforcer, recently showed off his bright pink nails, a result of his daughter's fun activities. He finds joy in dressing up and painting nails. "Having a daughter really changed my life," he said. Strome, who has two daughters, feels a deep connection with them and finds happiness in their smiles. Strome's daughters are often part of his game routine, cheering him on from the stands. He created a picture book, "Daddy Goes To Work," to help them understand his job and time away. Other dads on the team, like Dowd, also share these feelings. Dowd, whose daughter Ruby was born after his son Louie, expressed how special the bond with Ruby feels. Aliaksei Protas, another player, recalls rushing to the hospital for his daughter's birth, feeling that seeing her makes any bad day better. The team will soon welcome a new "girl dad" when goaltender Charlie Lindgren's daughter arrives in May. Lindgren is excited about fatherhood and is learning from his teammates to be the best dad he can. Overall, the Capitals players demonstrate the importance of family and support in their lives while balancing professional hockey.