NFL Player Mike Sainristil Photographs NHL Game, Continuing Trend of Athletes as Photographers

Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil recently photographed an NHL game between the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers using a Nikon DSLR camera. This marked his first attempt at sports photography, though he had previously recorded video at a Washington Wizards NBA game. Sainristil found hockey particularly difficult to shoot due to the puck's speed across the ice, describing it as more challenging than basketball or football. Despite the difficulty, he successfully captured two goals and several celebratory moments. The NHL praised his work, and the Capitals won the game 6-4, potentially viewing Sainristil as a good luck charm as they pursue playoff positioning. This event follows a pattern of athletes engaging in photography: last week, WNBA player Caitlin Clark photographed NBA players, and in December, Olympic gymnasts Simone Biles and Suni Lee shot NFL games. Other athletes like baseball Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Randy Johnson, along with former NFL receiver Larry Fitzgerald, have longstanding photography practices. Sainristil expressed enjoyment and interest in continuing photography, noting he captured many good moments.