Men's Hockey
Orpik, Brooks
Brooks Orpik
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
2001 NCAA champion and two-time Stanley Cup winner Brooks Orpik '02 begins his third season as an assistant coach with his alma mater in 2022-23.
Orpik was a shutdown defenseman for the Eagles, playing in 119 games over three seasons with 41 points. After his sophomore season, when he represented the U.S. at the IIHF World Junior Championship, Orpik was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2000 NHL Draft.
He returned for his junior year in 2000-01 and helped BC win the NCAA Championship for the first time since 1949. Orpik also won a pair of Hockey East titles during his time on the Heights.
The Penguins signed Orpik to an entry-level contract and he started his pro career in 2001-02, playing 78 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pittsburgh’s American Hockey League affiliate. In 2003-04 he brought his hard-hitting, defensive-minded style to the Penguins as a regular.
Orpik grew into a leadership role with Pittsburgh, ascending to a top-four defenseman. During the 2007-08 season, Orpik averaged less than 17 minutes per game in the regular season, but that number increased by nearly four minutes per game in the postseason, when Pittsburgh reached the Stanley Cup Final.
In 2008-09, Orpik nearly doubled his offensive production from the previous season with 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) and his average ice time increased by more than three minutes per game. The Penguins returned to the Stanley Cup Final and defeated the Detroit Red Wings in seven games for the third championship in their history and first since 1992.
Following 11 seasons with the Penguins, Orpik signed a five-year contract with the Capitals on July 1, 2014. He continued to provide a physical presence and became a mentor for some of Washington’s young defensemen. Orpik scored the winning goal in Game 2 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, sparking the Capitals to their first championship since they entered the NHL in 1974.
In January of 2019 during his final professional season, Orpik became the 330th NHL player and the fifth former Eagle to play in 1,000 career games.
Orpik skated for Team USA at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, winning a silver medal at the 2010 Games in Vancouver.
Orpik was inducted into the BC Varsity Club Hall of Fame in the Class of 2021. He earned his degree from Boston College in the spring of 2022.
Brooks and his wife Erin have two daughters, Harlow and Brooklyn. They reside in Cohasset.
Orpik was a shutdown defenseman for the Eagles, playing in 119 games over three seasons with 41 points. After his sophomore season, when he represented the U.S. at the IIHF World Junior Championship, Orpik was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2000 NHL Draft.
He returned for his junior year in 2000-01 and helped BC win the NCAA Championship for the first time since 1949. Orpik also won a pair of Hockey East titles during his time on the Heights.
The Penguins signed Orpik to an entry-level contract and he started his pro career in 2001-02, playing 78 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pittsburgh’s American Hockey League affiliate. In 2003-04 he brought his hard-hitting, defensive-minded style to the Penguins as a regular.
Orpik grew into a leadership role with Pittsburgh, ascending to a top-four defenseman. During the 2007-08 season, Orpik averaged less than 17 minutes per game in the regular season, but that number increased by nearly four minutes per game in the postseason, when Pittsburgh reached the Stanley Cup Final.
In 2008-09, Orpik nearly doubled his offensive production from the previous season with 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) and his average ice time increased by more than three minutes per game. The Penguins returned to the Stanley Cup Final and defeated the Detroit Red Wings in seven games for the third championship in their history and first since 1992.
Following 11 seasons with the Penguins, Orpik signed a five-year contract with the Capitals on July 1, 2014. He continued to provide a physical presence and became a mentor for some of Washington’s young defensemen. Orpik scored the winning goal in Game 2 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, sparking the Capitals to their first championship since they entered the NHL in 1974.
In January of 2019 during his final professional season, Orpik became the 330th NHL player and the fifth former Eagle to play in 1,000 career games.
Orpik skated for Team USA at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, winning a silver medal at the 2010 Games in Vancouver.
Orpik was inducted into the BC Varsity Club Hall of Fame in the Class of 2021. He earned his degree from Boston College in the spring of 2022.
Brooks and his wife Erin have two daughters, Harlow and Brooklyn. They reside in Cohasset.
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