Richard Brooks Orpik is an American professional
ice hockey defenseman currently playing for
the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey
League.
His brother, Andrew, was drafted by the Buffalo
Sabres and finished his professional career
with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.
Playing career
Orpik, born in San Francisco a few months
after the U.S. "Miracle on Ice" win over the
Soviet Union in Lake Placid in 1980, was named
for USA Olympics coach Herb Brooks.
He grew up in Amherst, New York and attended
the Nichols School in Buffalo, N.Y., and Thayer
Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts.
He played three seasons for Boston College,
winning the Hockey East postseason championship
in 1999 and 2001, and the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey
Championship in 2001.
Orpik was drafted in the first round of the
2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He began his professional career with the
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American
Hockey League during the 2001–02 AHL season.
He made his NHL debut during the 2002–03
season, playing in 6 games and recording no
points.
After earning a permanent roster spot on the
team next year, Orpik played in 79 games,
registering 1 goal, 9 assists, and 127 penalty
minutes.
Orpik signed a six-year contract in the summer
of 2008 with the Pittsburgh Penguins worth
$22.5 million.
In October 2008, he was named an alternate
captain of the Penguins along with Evgeni
Malkin behind Sidney Crosby.
On June 12, 2009, Orpik and the Pittsburgh
Penguins became Stanley Cup champions by defeating
the Detroit Red Wings in Game 7.
On December 17, 2011, Orpik recorded his 100th
career point by earning an assist on Evgeni
Malkin's goal on Ryan Miller at Pittsburgh's
own CONSOL Energy Center.
On May 11, 2013, Brooks Orpik scored the winning
goal in overtime of Game 6 to eliminate the
New York Islanders and advance the Pittsburgh
Penguins to the second round of the 2013 Stanley
Cup Playoffs, his first career playoff goal.
On December 7, 2013, Orpik hit Boston forward
Loui Eriksson resulting in a concussion.
Shawn Thornton took exception to the hit and
slew-footed Orpik.
After Orpik fell on his back due to the slew-foot,
punches to the head were delivered by Thornton
to Orpik, also resulting in a concussion.
Thornton was suspended for 15 games for the
incident.
On July 1, 2014, the Washington Capitals signed
Brooks Oprik to a 5-year, $27.5 million deal.
International play
In 1999, Orpik competed in the World Junior
Hockey Championships in Stockholm, Sweden.
In 2009, Orpik was invited to the U.S. Hockey
orientation camp, for the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver.
Orpik represented the United States of America
at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada.
Team USA earned a silver medal.
Awards
(Pittsburgh Penguins) Defensive Player of
the Year 2009-10
Stanley Cup Champion 2009
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
International
References
External links
Brooks Orpik's career statistics at The Internet
Hockey Database
Brooks Orpik's biography at Legends of Hockey
