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Defenseman Kundratek to make NHL debut with Caps

By WTOP Staff

Ben Raby, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – Hershey Bears defenseman Tomas Kundratek was packing up for a nine-hour bus ride to Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday afternoon when he was informed by Bears General Manager Doug Yingst that his travel plans were changing.

The 22-year-old Czech native got the news that every hockey prospect hopes to someday hear — he was heading to “the show,” promoted to the NHL for the first time in his pro career.

“I’m really excited,” the newest Washington Capital told reporters Wednesday morning. “It’s unreal.”

Kundratek will make his NHL debut tonight as the Capitals (21-17-2) begin a four-game homestand against the Pittsburgh Penguins (21-16-4).

“He’s been playing well down there,” Capitals head coach Dale Hunter said of Kundratek. “We thought we’d give him the chance up here to see what he can do up here and get a good look at home.”

Hunter describes the 6-foot-2-inch, 201-pound Kundratek as a good skater who moves the puck well.

“I like to do everything,” Kundratek said. “I like to hit, I like to play good defense and I like to score.”

The Capitals acquired Kundratek from the New York Rangers organization on Nov. 8 in a deal that at the time involved a pair of minor leaguers and former Caps prospect Francois Bouchard going to the Rangers.

Kundratek was buried on the Rangers’ organizational depth chart and was being used sparingly with the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Connecticut Whale.

“It was huge,” Kundratek said of being traded to the Caps. “It was a tough position down in Hartford. I was a healthy scratch probably for seven games, so I was talking to my agent and he helped me get the trade, and since then I’ve been really excited and I’ve been enjoying hockey again.”

In 21 games after joining the Bears, Kundratek had six goals and eight points. In his 77 total games with Connecticut since the start of the 2010-11 season, Kundratek had just two goals and 14 points.

“It was a really tough position there because they had a lot of really good players — there’s Wade Redden, Brendan Bell and a lot of older guys,” he said. “There were nine defensemen also and I was the youngest and that’s probably the reason why [I didn’t play]. The coaches had a tough time, I was talking to them and they didn’t even know what to do, it was a really tough position.

“I was waiting, waiting until probably it was the seventh game I was healthy scratched and I said, ‘That’s enough, I’m a young player and I need to play.’ So I talked to my agent and he got me traded here.”

Kundratek is expected to be paired tonight with fellow Czech and 19-year NHL veteran Roman Hamrlik.

“I just told him to keep it simple,” Hamrlik said of his message to Kundratek. “Don’t try to do too much, make the first quick pass and get some confidence early. I do remember my first game, I was so nervous, so hopefully if he’s nervous too, I’ll try to help him as much as I can.”

Added Kundratek: “I was watching that guy since I was young so it’s unreal. It will be a huge experience and I’m really looking forward.”

Kundratek is also familiar with Caps goalie Michal Neuvirth, having played with him on the Czech national team at the 2008 World Junior Championships.

Catch the Capitals and Penguins tonight at 7:40. Coverage begins with Caps Pregame at 7:00 on Federal News Radio, WFED 1500AM and online at WFED.com.

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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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