NHL's Brooks Orpik launches drive for rink at Thayer

Globe South Sports Notebook

By Justin A. Rice February 21, 2010

Looking back on his hockey career at Thayer Academy, Brooks Orpik likened the school’s weight room to a broom closet.

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“A lot has changed there since I was there,’’ recalled the rugged defenseman, who, since his departure, has won a national championship at Boston College in 2001 and a Stanley Cup last spring with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“I worked out in their new fitness center. Now it’s nicer than a lot of college weight rooms. They’re pretty spoiled over there.’’

Orpik, who along with former Thayer teammate Ryan Whitney (Anaheim Ducks) is suiting up for Team USA in Vancouver - wants to spoil the hockey players at his alma mater even more by helping Thayer coach Larry Rooney build an on-campus rink.

Rooney will host a watch party for tonight’s US-Canada men’s game (MSNBC, 7 p.m.) in hopes of garnering support for a fund-raising effort, extending an invitation to 600 hockey alums for the big-screen event.

“A night like this might kick it off,’’ Rooney said of the fund-raising. “We’re trying to get support and figureheads behind this, trying to rejuvenate some energy around this.’’

At Thayer, Rooney was a teammate of Marshfield’s Jeremy Roenick and Hingham’s Tony Amonte, who both played in the 1998 Games in Nagano, the first Games to allow NHL players, and the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. Alum Dave Silk of Scituate was a member of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice’’ team in Lake Placid, N.Y.

“It’s an honor to represent your country in international play,’’ said Whitney, who was a late addition to Team USA after Paul Martin was injured. “I’ve done it before, and you really can’t compare it to anything else when you’re wearing your country’s jersey.

Orpik, who plans to contribute funds to the estimated $20 million facility, also put together a highlight DVD to inspire those in attendance this evening.

Thayer is the only program in the Independent School League without its own rink.

“Hopefully everything goes well,’’ Orpik said of the capital campaign. “It’s well overdue. Most [ISL teams] play in pretty new and nice rinks. It would be a good thing for them.’’

Here and there

Catherine O’Connell of North Quincy High and Tim Young of Brockton continue to tear it up on the court at Newbury College. Together, the pair have copped 11 Rookie of the Week honors from the New England Collegiate Conference this winter.

O’Connell was honored last week after averaging 12 points and 10.3 rebounds over two games for the Nighthawks.

“I wasn’t expecting to win all these awards,’’ said the freshman center. “I just play for the team and if it comes on the side it comes on the side. It’s great to win them, but that’s not what I’m going for.’’

The Nighthawks men’s team was 1-1- last week, defeating Daniel Webster 61-59 and narrowly falling to Southern Vermont 77-75. Young averaged 28.5 points, 6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.5 steals. “It’s great,’’ he said. “I have good teammates and have taken good shots.’’ . . .

Norwood’s Kathryn Bernazzani was selected Northeast-10 Freshman of the Week for the first time after breaking the Stonehill College school record in 55-meter hurdles. She was clocked in a time of 8.75 seconds at the Tufts Stampede, finishing second in a field of 23 runners. She has qualified for the New England Championships later this month. . . .

Westfield State freshman Brendan Corcoran of Walpole was named MASCAC Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week after shattering school and meet records in the 600 meters (1 minute, 21.98 seconds).

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