Defenseman Taylor Chorney wasn’t with the Capitals during their Stanley Cup run last season. In late February 2018, Chorney was placed on waivers to make room for Michal Kempny and Jakub Jerabek, before being claimed by Metro division rival Columbus Blue Jackets. He only played in one game with the Ohio team.
During a recent dinner, Chorney’s former teammates wanted to recognize the positive impact that the defenseman had over his nearly three seasons with the Capitals. In a video posted by Grand Forks college hockey writer Brad Schlossman, Chorney was presented with a mysterious wrapped box and given a heartwarming speech from Brooks Orpik.
“This is something that everybody wanted to chip in for,” Orpik said, after thanking Chorney for visiting them. Chorney signed with Swiss team HC Lugano over the summer and their season concluded in March.
The present, Orpik continued, was something “everybody here thinks you deserve.”
Video
This is pretty awesome. Taylor Chorney, who was with the Washington Capitals until late last season, went to visit his old teammates… and they had quite the surprise for him. VIDEO >>> pic.twitter.com/vjvpac2edn
— Brad E. Schlossman (@SchlossmanGF) April 6, 2019
“Boys, I don’t even know what to say,” Chorney said after he opened the wrapped box and saw the Stanley Cup championship ring. “Whose idea was this?”
The loudest answer was “The boys,” although Tom Wilson chimed in with “It was mine only.”
Chorney put the ring on and showed it off to the team. His hands were only slightly shaking.
The rest of the dinner group gave Chorney a round of applause. In addition to Orpik and Wilson, Braden Holtby, Brett Connolly, and Chandler Stephenson can be seen in the video.
Being presented with a Cup ring wasn’t the only nod that Chorney got from his former teammates. Chorney also celebrated at TJ Oshie’s private party in July during Oshie’s Cup day. Oshie and Chorney played together in both St. Louis and Washington, as well as at the University of North Dakota from 2005 to 2008.
Over the course of his near three-season career with the Capitals, Chorney played in 97 games, recording three goals and 12 assists. During his 48 games of the 2018-19 season with HC Lugano, he scored five goals and tallied 20 assists.
Headline image: @SchlossmanGF
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