Eli’s recent Caps update reminds us that tonight is the start of tryouts for the Capitals’ much maligned Spirit Squad. As you may recall, hockey fans were outraged when the Caps first advertised for the squad, causing owner Ted Leonsis to say that revenue was the main reason the squad was created.

Over at On Frozen Blog, the OFB Team posts this update on the current shape of the Squad:

The squad has experienced quite a transformation before even one girl (or guy) survived the cuts and earned their, um, pom-poms? What started as a group of “ladies who can represent The Washington Capitals and be the face of the organization” is now “people who will represent the Washington Capitals in a fun, high-spirited manner”. The uniforms have changed as well as the half tops, skirts, shorts and pants gave way to professionally designed long-sleeve shirts and pants.

The audition FAQ also describes the Spirit Squad as “neither a dance nor an ice squad,” emphasizing that people trying out will be judged on their enthusiasm and ability to learn both the dance routines and skating techniques.

The audition schedule is as follows, per the Caps web site. More details here:

Auditions: September 3-5, 2008
Day 1: Kettler Capitals Iceplex, Registration/On Ice Day
Registration 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Day 2: Interview and Physical Fitness Test 5 p.m.
Day 3: Dance and Improv 6 p.m.