Background
Orpik grew up in Amherst, New York, and attended the Nichols School in Buffalo and Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts.
Orpik grew up in Amherst, New York, and attended the Nichols School in Buffalo and Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts.
Early life/collegiate career
He played three seasons for Boston College, winning the Hockey East post-season championship in 1999 and 2001, as well as the National Collegiate Athletic Association Men"s Ice Hockey Championship in 2001. Professional
Orpik was drafted in the first round, 18th overall, of the 2000 National Hockey League Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He began his professional career with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) during the 2001-2002 season.
He made his National Hockey League debut during the 2002-2003 season, playing in six games and recording no points.
After earning a permanent roster spot on the team the next year, Orpik played in 79 games, registering one goal, nine assists and 127 penalty minutes. Orpik signed a six-year, $22.5 million contract extension in the summer of 2008 with the Penguins.
In October 2008, he was named an alternate captain (interim while Sergei Gonchar was injured) of the Penguins, along with Evgeni Malkin, behind captain Sidney Crosby. On December 17, 2011, Orpik recorded his 100th career point by earning an assist on Evgeni Malkin"s goal on Ryan Miller at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.
On December 7, 2013, Orpik hit Boston Bruins forward Loui Eriksson, resulting in a concussion to the latter.
Shawn Thornton took exception to the hit, and followed by slew-footing Orpik. After Orpik fell on his back due to the slew-foot, Thornton delivered a series of punches to Orpik, concussing him. Thornton was suspended for 15 games for the incident.
On July 1, 2014, the Washington Capitals signed Orpik to a five-year, $27.5 million deal as an unrestricted free agent.
In 1999, Orpik competed for the United States in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Stockholm. In 2009, Orpik was invited to the United States of America Hockey orientation camp, from August 17 to 19, in preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Orpik was ultimately selected to Team United States of America for the Olympic squad, which finished with a silver medal finish behind Canada.