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Former Caps captain would consider NHL return as a coach

By WTOP Staff

Ben Raby, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – Former Capitals captain Dale Hunter joined an elite group Saturday, becoming just the 10th coach in Ontario Hockey League history to reach 450 career wins.

Hunter’s London Knights beat the Erie Otters 7-2 Saturday, improving to a league-best 19-5-1.

Minutes after Hunter’s milestone win, the Capitals left Buffalo’s First Niagara Center following yet another humbling defeat – 5-1 against a depleted Sabres team that was missing nine players from its opening night roster.

It was Washington’s fourth straight loss on the road and their tenth loss in 15 games overall following a 7-0 start to the season.

The Capitals’ prolonged slump has led to growing speculation – on both sides of the border – that a team that began the year with Stanley Cup expectations could be headed towards a coaching change.

Rogers Sportsnet in Canada suggested this week that Hunter is worthy of consideration.

The 51-year-old Hunter is now the OHL’s third longest tenured head coach having worked behind the Knights’ bench since 2001.

Brothers Dale and Mark Hunter purchased the Knights in 2000, and now in his 11th season as the club’s head coach, Dale is widely considered one of the game’s best coaches yet to guide a professional team.

“It would be pretty nice to see somebody like Dale Hunter [return to the NHL],” former Capitals general manager David Poile told WTOP unsolicited in 2009.

“He’s a very successful coach in junior hockey and I think he’s a guy we should be keeping our eyes on for future NHL coaching possibilities. Dale was a tremendous player, a great player for the Caps and also a great student of the game and we can see that now with his successful coaching in the junior ranks.”

Hunter retired in 1999 after a 19-year NHL career – including parts of 12 seasons in Washington – and he is one of four former Capitals to have had their jerseys raised to the Verizon Center rafters.

When WTOP brought Poile’s endorsement of Hunter to his attention, the three-time OHL Coach of the Year didn’t beat around the bush.

“Yeah definitely I think I would look into it,” Hunter said in a phone interview of a possible return to the NHL.

“It takes experience to coach and I’ve been coaching here for [ten] years with the London Knights. Definitely I watch a lot of NHL games – it’s a great game, the NHL is the elite level and my one goal that I never reached as a player – I came close once with the Caps [in 1998] – is to win a Stanley Cup. It would be awesome whether coaching or playing.”

In addition to developing No. 1 picks Rick Nash (2002) and Patrick Kane (2007), Hunter also led the Knights to the 2005 Memorial Cup (Canada’s junior hockey national championship).

It’s also no secret that Hunter remains close with the Capitals organization and has maintained a working relationship with GM George McPhee.

When the Capitals acquired former London Knights defenseman Dennis Wideman at last year’s Trade Deadline, McPhee sought Hunter’s endorsement before pulling the trigger on the deal.

Wideman played for Hunter from 2001-04 while fellow Caps defenseman John Carlson manned in Knights’ blue line during the 2008-09 campaign.

“Everyone knows what type of player Dale was, and how much he means to the franchise,” Wideman told reporters the day he was acquired from the Florida Panthers.

“He always said positive things with the way [the Capitals] treat their players and moving forward how they’re trying to build the team. I had the pleasure of playing for Dale for three years and just playing for him and his brother Mark got me to where I am today.”

The Capitals return to Verizon Center Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues at 7:05. Coverage begins with Caps Pregame at 6:45 on Federal News Radio – WFED 1500 AM & wfed.com.

Follow WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2011 by WOTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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