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SPORTS Wednesday 26 June 2019
Orpik retires after 15 NHL seasons, 2 Stanley Cup titles

By STEPHEN WHYNO thing that, I think when stuff
AP Hockey Writer doesn’t go your way after
Brooks Orpik called it a ca- the season you got to take
reer Tuesday after 15 bruis- a lot of time off to let things
ing NHL seasons in which settle down.”
he established himself as Orpik came to that deci-
a big-hitting, shutdown sion and will now turn his
defenseman and won the attention to finishing his
Stanley Cup twice. communications degree
The 38-year-old played at Boston College. He said
1,171 regular-season and he wished he had a better
playoff games for the Pitts- post-playing career plan
burgh Penguins and Wash- in place but will see where
ington Capitals. He won the the degree takes him.
Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009 He will be remembered
and Washington in 2018. for being the muscle be-
“I’ve been extremely lucky hind two Cup champi-
to have the best job in the ons — Sidney Crosby’s first
world for many years, but and Ovechkin’s first. He
my body is telling me it is often toed the line on hits
time to move on to some- and was suspended three
thing new,” Orpik said. “I’m games during the 2016
excited for more family playoffs for a late, high hit
time and to experience a In this Jan. 18, 2019, file photo, Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik, center, poses that injured Pittsburgh’s Olli
lot of the things that being with Dick Patrick, left, team president, and Bill Daly, deputy NHL commissioner, after he was given Maatta.
a professional athlete forc- a silver stick during a ceremony to honor Opik for playing 1,000 NHL hockey games, before the “He’s a little bit of a dino-
es you to miss out on.” team’s matchup against the New York Islanders in Washington. saur because he hits and
Orpik was more known for Associated Press there’s not a lot of hitting
his physicality and defense game.” Orpik became a young guys to have had minutes a night during the in this game,” said Colum-
than his offense. He put respected alternate cap- the chance to learn from Capitals’ seven-game se- bus coach John Tortorella,
up 194 regular-season and tain and leader during his him.” ries against Carolina. After who knows Orpik well from
26 playoff points but also five seasons in Washington. Orpik implied throughout the first-round exit in late U.S. teams in international
scored the Game 2-win- Teammates nicknamed this season it could be his April, the San Francisco na- play. “A lot of people think
ning goal for Washington in him “Batya” — Russian for last in the NHL. He had sur- tive conceded he thought he might hit hard. I think he
the 2018 final on the way to “Dad.” “Batya was a great gery in November to repair he may have played his plays the game hard. I think
the franchise’s first title. leader in our locker room a torn meniscus in his right final NHL game but didn’t he plays the game the right
“We wouldn’t have a and was so important for us knee. want to make a rash deci- way.” Orpik’s ability to play
Stanley Cup if it wasn’t for to win our first Stanley Cup,” “Trying to maintain that lev- sion. “You got to be 100% on the edge and defend
him,” Capitals goaltender captain Alex Ovechkin said el, efficiency was tough,” committed to it,” Orpik said other players made him
Braden Holtby said at the in a statement Wednesday. Orpik said. “So I think there of potentially playing an- beloved in Washington.
end of this season. “The im- “We will miss his presence were times of the year, I other season. “If you’re not, The Capitals prepared for
pact he’s had on our team in the room and on the ice. was frustrated just that I then it’s unfair to your team- his departure by trading
is probably second to none, Not only was he a great couldn’t do what I wanted mates and other people for big-hitting defenseman
the way he’s changed the leader and a player, but to do.” that are trying to help you Radko Gudas, but team-
culture and pushed guys he was a better person. I’m Orpik was back to his vin- out. In terms of like wanting mates know there’s no re-
to make them better. One so happy I had a chance tage self in the playoffs, to play or being committed placing Orpik and what he
of the true leaders in our to play with him and for our emptying the tank for 18 to play, I think that’s some- meant on and off the ice.q

Blues sign coach Craig Berube

to 3-year contract extension

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Blues was before the Blues beat then beat the Jets, Stars
made official Tuesday what the Boston Bruins in seven and Sharks in the playoffs
everyone had expected games to hoist the Stan- to reach the Stanley Cup
the moment Craig Berube ley Cup. “Craig made an Final.
led St. Louis to a remarkable enormous impact on our In a dramatic, bruising se-
turnaround capped by the team when he took over ries, the Blues emerged to
first Stanley Cup champion- last November,” Armstrong win the first title in their 52-
ship in franchise history. said in a statement. “He year history, helping to give
They stripped the interim restored our identity and a city still smarting from the
tag from his title and signed provided our players with a loss of the St. Louis Rams a
him to three-year contract. clear sense of direction.” reason to celebrate.
Berube had been the in- The Blues were in last place An estimated 500,000 fans
terim coach since taking at the start of the year, but showed up in a downpour St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube holds the Stanley
over for Mike Yeo on Nov. Berube led them on an 11- for the championship pa- Cup overhead during the NHL hockey Stanley Cup victory
19, but general manager game win streak in Janu- rade 10 days ago. celebration in St. Louis on Saturday, June 15, 2019.
Doug Armstrong acknowl- ary and February to posi- “I’m so happy for the city Associated Press
edged during the playoffs tion them for the playoffs. and the fans here. They than anything I’m so happy the character and leader-
an extension was a fore- They wound up going 38- deserve it,” Berube said for our players because of ship coming through, win-
gone conclusion. And that 19-6 in the regular season, during the rally. “But more how hard they’ve played, ning that cup.”q