Liam O’Brien

Leader, role model, and warrior: Capitals players salute retiring Brooks Orpik on social media

Brooks Oprik announced his retirement through a Capitals release on Tuesday morning.

During his time in Washington, the hulking defenseman left an indelible impact on his teammates. From his big goals to his big hits, Capitals players looked up to Orpik as a leader, role model, and friend. On social media and in statements released through the team, the Capitals showered Orpik with praise and thanked him for his time in Washington.

“Batya was a great leader in our locker room and was so important for us to win our first Stanley Cup,” Alex Ovechkin said.

“He is a terrific person and a friend,” TJ Oshie said.

“Thanks for always looking after me on and off the ice,” Andre Burakovsky said. “You have been a true friend and role model for me.”

Hockey players can sometimes be inarticulate. This is not one of those times.

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By Ian Oland 3 weeks ago

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Capitals re-sign Liam O’Brien to a one-year, $700,000 contract

The Washington Capitals announced on Monday that they have signed forward Liam O’Brien to a one-year, two-way contract for $700,000.

The 24-year old O’Brien signed with the Capitals as a free agent in 2014, and has since played five seasons with the Hershey Bears, where he served as an alternate captain in the 2018-19 season. O’Brien accumulated 108 points and 555 penalty minutes in 311 AHL games. He was a member of the Bears team that reached 2016 Calder Cup finals and has 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in 44 AHL playoff appearances.

The Halifax, Nova Scotia native has played 17 career games with the Capitals, though he was not called up to the Capitals in the 2018-19 season. Last season, O’Brien recorded 28 points (15g, 13a) in 74 games for the Bears, including three power play goals and four game-winning goals.

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By Elizabeth Kong 1 month ago

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The Hershey Bears record their first shutout of the season against the Charlotte Checkers

On Saturday the Hershey Bears recorded their first shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over the Charlotte Checkers. Vitek Vanecek made 25 saves in goal as the Bears handed the Checkers their first loss of the season.
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By Alex Hayes 9 months ago

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Seats by the penalty box had the best view in the house during the Capitals/Blues game

The Capitals and the Blues met in St. Louis on Tuesday night for the first of two preseason meetings, with the Capitals ultimately winning with a 4-0 shutout.

It was an intense game, with plenty of heavy hitting, Capitals goals, and feisty fisticuffs. I had a front row seat to the action on the ice and in the penalty box.

Here are some of the highlights that didn’t make it onto the Instagram story during the game.

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By Brennin Weiswerda 10 months ago

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The Liam O’Brien and Patrick Maroon fight was ‘one of the best’ of the NHL preseason

The Washington Capitals won their first game of the preseason on Tuesday, but the Blues’ physicality took a toll. The Caps lost Michal Kempny to injury and fought twice in the game.

After watching Hershey teammate Nathan Walker get hit high, Liam O’Brien finally had enough, asking Patrick Maroon to get these hands 13:05 into the second period.

The Big Tuna didn’t win the spirited bout, but O’Brien’s participation left NBC Sports Washington’s Craig Laughlin mightily impressed.

“That’s one of the best (fights) I’ve seen in the last couple of seasons, toe-to-toe,” Locker said.

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By Ian Oland 10 months ago

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Hockey is back! Photos from the first week of Capitals training camp

On Saturday, the Capitals took to the ice at Medstar Capitals Iceplex for the second day of training camp. With the camp roster and invites split into three group, each group spent time doing on-ice practice, off-ice training, and video review.

Although the roster has gone through their first cuts, such as sending first-round draft pick Alexander Alexeyev back to his junior league team, Saturday’s practice featured everyone. Alexeyev, who had an impressive training camp, was in Group White with Caps vets Braden Holtby, Nicklas Backstrom, and TJ Oshie. Group Red paired goalies Pheonix Copley and Ilya Samsonov, both of whom are in the running to be number two in the net behind Holtby this season. Group Blue featured Alex Ovechkin and the Caps’ Russians, who along with Tom Wilson were on the celebratory end of a competitive two-on-two drill–Ovi was jumping up and down on his skates celebrating the win.

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By Elizabeth Kong 10 months ago

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Capitals re-sign Liam O’Brien to one year, two-way contract

Friday afternoon, the Washington Capitals announced that they have re-signed forward Liam O’Brien to a one year, two-way contract.

O’Brien had filed for arbitration, but ultimately settled with the Capitals prior to his arbitration date on July 23. His contract carries an AAV of the league minimum, $650,000.

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By Rachel Cohen 1 year ago

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Tom Wilson opts not to file for arbitration

At 5pm, the NHL’s mandatory deadline for players to file for arbitration passed.

Restricted free agent Tom Wilson, the Capitals last remaining high profile unsigned player, opted to not file.

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By Ian Oland 1 year ago

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The 11 best stills from the Hershey Bears National Puppy Day video

Friday was #NationalPuppyDay and the Hershey Bears celebrated the holiday the best way possible.

The Bears posted a video of its players holding, hugging, and kissing tiny puppies from Susquehana Service Dogs.

“We had the BEST DAY EVER with our friends from @SSDOGS,” the Bears wrote on Twitter.

Here are my 11 favorite stills.

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By Ian Oland 1 year ago

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Chris Bourque gives tiny Caps fan game-used stick during game in Bridgeport, Connecticut

Tom Kazukynas is a longtime RMNB reader. Several members of his extended family recently went to Bears-Sound Tigers game. He sent this writeup and shared these photos in an email below.

As the Capitals and Rangers faced off on Rivalry Night Wednesday, the Hershey Bears took on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in a semi-rivalry matchup just 60 miles up the road in Connecticut. The Bears ultimately dropped the game, losing 3-1, but in the meantime Mr. Olympian Chris Bourque continued his campaign to impress his fanbase with a surprise giveaway and signing for a young fan.

Midway through the second period of the game, Bears head trainer Dan “Beaker” Stuck noticed a few fans wearing Caps jerseys just behind the bench. He called them over and handed up a game used stick from Chris Bourque.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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