Former Washington Capitals defenseman Richard “Brooks” Orbeck (named after the late head coach of Team USA, Herb Brooks) is currently spending his retirement summers with his family in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. But during the hockey season, Orpik continues in his role as the Capitals’ player development coach.
Orbeck told Cam and Streak podcasts This week he was planning to take a year off after announcing his retirement in June 2019, but Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan immediately asked him if he’d be interested in a player development role with the team. Orbeck said, in hindsight, that he was very lucky to have this offer.
The podcast crew noted that they felt McClellan was somewhat unknown to the rest of the hockey world, compared to other general managers in the league, and asked Orbic to describe him.
“He’s just a big guy (6′-3”). He’s very calm at first, and then once you get to know him, he’s actually a really cool and funny guy. I think a lot of young players are very afraid of him. Because, like I said, if you don’t know him… A lot of guys are like, “He’s scary,” he’s a big guy, and he doesn’t talk much. “He talks. Just go talk to him. I think a lot of guys get nervous to talk to him.”
Orpik’s first year of retirement was stressful as he was also finishing his undergraduate degree and coaching at his alma mater, Boston College. As a result, after graduating, he decided to reduce his commitments and focus solely on his role with the Capitals as best he could, eventually quitting his coaching role at Boston College.
Orbic had the honors of winning the Stanley Cup with both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. He said it was a much different feeling. Crosby won three times and took his first win early, while Ovechkin came in at the end of a very tall rally. “Maybe that’s why the party was so hard in Washington.”
Orbic said he got along with everyone in the Capitals after winning the Stanley Cup in 2018.
Everyone has been. It was an amazing group. But I will say, we got around the 9th or 10th day, and I think everyone was on the same page. Well, I’ll pay you whatever I have to do to get out of this town right now. My body will literally shut down.”
Orpik is still in a Capitals group chat, as they discussed their fifth anniversary last week. “We still get great group chat.”
Orpik called the Game 5 Series-Clincher in Vegas. We were going into the third period and it probably happened between periods. Like, ‘Guys, let’s not screw this up, ’cause we’re staying here overnight.”
“I think only two men were sleeping and they were the only two men who were late for the plane,” Orbeck said.
Full interview [begins at 1:45:00]