Evan Brooks Laich (; born June 23, 1983) is a Canadian former professional
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...
forward
Forward is a relative direction, the opposite of backward.
Forward may also refer to:
People
*Forward (surname)
Sports
* Forward (association football)
* Forward (basketball), including:
** Point forward
** Power forward (basketball)
** Smal ...
. He played over 750
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
(NHL) games across four teams: the
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...
,
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...
,
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
and the
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...
.
Laich was originally drafted by the Senators in the
2001 NHL Entry Draft, and was later traded to the Capitals as part of the package for
Peter Bondra
Peter Bondra (; born 7 February 1968) is a Ukrainian-born Slovak former professional ice hockey player. He was the general manager of the Slovakia national team from 2007 to 2011. A two-time 50-goal scorer, Bondra became the 37th player in Nati ...
. Before playing professionally, Laich spent time in the
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hocke ...
(WHL) playing with the
Moose Jaw Warriors
The Moose Jaw Warriors are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The Warriors play in the East Division of the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference, hosting games at the Moose Jaw Events Centre. The t ...
and
Seattle Thunderbirds
The Seattle Thunderbirds are a major junior ice hockey team based in the city of Kent, Washington. They are part of the U.S. Division of the Western Conference in the Western Hockey League. Founded in 1971 as the Vancouver Nats, the team arrive ...
. He has represented Canada internationally, capturing a silver medal at the
2003 World Junior Championships, and playing for Canada again at the
2010 World Hockey Championships.
Playing career
Minor
Laich started playing
minor hockey
Minor ice hockey or minor hockey is an umbrella term for amateur ice hockey which is played below the junior age level. Players are classified by age, with each age group playing in its own league. The rules, especially as it relates to body c ...
in his hometown of
Wawota
Wawota is a town of 543 people along Highway 48 in the southeast part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Established in 1905, its name is from Dakota "wa ota", which means "much snow". Wa means 'snow', oda or ota means 'much'. It is som ...
,
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada. It is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and to the south by the ...
. During the 1999–2000 season, he was the top scorer and most valuable player for the midget AAA Tisdale Trojans.
He was the runner up for league MVP.
Junior
Laich started his
junior hockey
Junior ice hockey is amateur-level ice hockey for 16 to 20 year-old players. National Junior teams compete annually for the IIHF World Junior Championship. The United States men's national junior ice hockey team are the defending champions from t ...
career with the
Moose Jaw Warriors
The Moose Jaw Warriors are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The Warriors play in the East Division of the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference, hosting games at the Moose Jaw Events Centre. The t ...
of the
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hocke ...
(WHL) during the
2000–01 season. He played in 71 games with the Warriors, scoring nine goals and adding 21 assists.
Laich was a dedicated student in Moose Jaw, being awarded the club's Scholastic Player of the Year for the 2000–01 season.
After the season, he was drafted by the
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...
in the sixth round, 193rd overall, of the
2001 NHL Entry Draft.
He started the
2001–02 season with the Warriors, but was traded to the
Seattle Thunderbirds
The Seattle Thunderbirds are a major junior ice hockey team based in the city of Kent, Washington. They are part of the U.S. Division of the Western Conference in the Western Hockey League. Founded in 1971 as the Vancouver Nats, the team arrive ...
along with
Tomáš Mojžíš
Tomáš Mojžíš (born 2 May 1982) is a Czech former ice hockey defenceman. He played 17 games in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, and Minnesota Wild from 2006 to 2008. The rest of his career, which las ...
for Craig Olynick and Stas Avksentiev. The deal was unpopular with Warriors fans, as Olynick left the club and Avksentiev never reported.
Laich spent the rest of his junior career with the Thunderbirds. He started to develop more of an offensive game, finishing off the 2001–02 season with 58 points in the 47 games he played in Seattle.
Laich has said that getting traded to Seattle was a good move for him, with coach
Dean Chynoweth
Dean E. Chynoweth (born October 30, 1968) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for the New York Islanders and the Boston Bruins. Drafted 13th overall by the Islanders in the 1987 NHL En ...
providing ample opportunities for him to display his skills.
He was named the team's Most Dedicated Player after the 2001–02 season.
His offensive game flourished further in his first full season with the Thunderbirds (
2002–03), as he finished the season with 41 goals and 53 assists, leading the team.
These stats placed him sixth overall in the WHL points race.
He was named the WHL's Western Conference MVP.
He was also named to the WHL's Western Conference First All-Star Team, and the
Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League (CHL; , LCH) is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canada-based major junior ice hockey leagues. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three me ...
's Third All-Star Team.
Professional

Laich attended the
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...
training camp before the 2002–03 season.
He played his first professional game in the
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...
(AHL) for the
Binghamton Senators
The Binghamton Senators were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) that played from 2002 to 2017. Nicknamed the B-Sens, they played in Binghamton, New York, at the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena. The B-Sens w ...
in
2003
2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater.
In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War.
Demographic ...
.
He made his
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
(NHL) debut with the Senators on February 3, 2004, against the
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...
.
Later in the season, Laich was traded to the
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...
, along with a second round draft pick, for
Peter Bondra
Peter Bondra (; born 7 February 1968) is a Ukrainian-born Slovak former professional ice hockey player. He was the general manager of the Slovakia national team from 2007 to 2011. A two-time 50-goal scorer, Bondra became the 37th player in Nati ...
, a deal which ended Bondra's 14-year career with the Capitals.
After the trade, he reported to the Capitals' AHL affiliate, the
Portland Pirates
The Portland Pirates were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL). Their home arena was the Cross Insurance Arena in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the Baltimore Skipjacks ...
, making his debut with the Capitals on March 12, 2003, against the
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...
.
He finished the season playing with the Pirates, appearing in six playoff games.
The
NHL lockout
The NHL lockout may refer to any of the four industrial disputes in the history of the National Hockey League:
* The 1992 NHL strike, which postponed 30 games of the 1991–92 season
* The 1994–95 NHL lockout, which cancelled many of the gam ...
saw Laich spend the entire 2004–05 season with the Pirates, playing in 68 games, finishing eighth on the team in scoring with 16 goals and 10 assists.
During the
2005–06 season, Laich played in 104 regular season and playoff games between the Capitals and their new AHL affiliate, the
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The Bears have played in the American Hockey League (AHL) since the 1938–39 season, making it the longest continuously operating member club of the league still ...
; this tied him for the most games played in the organization with
Boyd Gordon.
After training camp, he started the season in the AHL, but was optimistic about his chances to play in the NHL, saying, "You've just got to work hard. There's spots up there, guys could go down with an injury, you want to be the first guy called up."
He spent most of the season at the NHL level, playing in 73 games and recording 21 points.
After the Capitals' season was over, Laich rejoined the Bears for their playoff run and scored eight goals in 21 games
while helping the team capture the
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the playoff champions of the American Hockey League (AHL). It was first presented in 1937 to the Syracuse Stars.
The cup is made of sterling silver mounted on a base of Brazilian mahogany. In it ...
.
Laich played the entire
2006–07 season with the Capitals, scoring eight goals and adding ten assists.
After the season, Laich and the Capitals went to salary arbitration, where he was awarded a one-year contract worth $725,000.
Laich played in all 82 games for the Capitals during the
2007–08 season, and set career highs in goals, assists and points. His 21 goals ranked third overall on the team. He led the Capitals with two
short handed goals, and played in his 200th career regular season game. After a two-goal game against the
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL sea ...
, Laich summed up his philosophy towards scoring: "If you want money, go to the bank. If you want bread, go to the bakery. If you want goals, go to the net."
During the
playoffs
The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
, Laich had a five-game point streak in the
Eastern Conference quarter-finals against the
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...
. This tied him for the longest point streak during the first round of the playoffs.
As a restricted free agent after the season, Laich signed a three-year deal with the team on July 9, 2008.
The
2008–09 season saw Laich play in all 82 games for the Capitals again, where he set new career highs in goals, assists and points; he scored 23 goals and added 30 assists, breaking the 50-point plateau for the first time in his career.
During the Capitals'
playoff run, Laich played in 14 games and added seven points.
He assisted on the overtime winning goal in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Final against the eventual
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...
champions
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...
.
Laich's streak of consecutive games played was broken in the
2009–10 season, when he missed four games with a cheekbone injury in February 2010.
He still managed to set new career highs in both goals (25) and assists (34).
On February 10, shortly after returning from injury, Laich recorded his first career NHL
hat trick
A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mechan ...
, against the
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...
.
During the playoffs, Laich scored the last goal of the Capitals season during Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens.

During the
2010–11 season, the Capitals participated in the
2011 NHL Winter Classic
The 2011 NHL Winter Classic (known via corporate sponsorship as the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic) was an outdoor ice hockey game played in the National Hockey League (NHL) on January 1, 2011, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The fo ...
against the Pittsburgh Penguins at
Heinz Field
Acrisure Stadium, formerly (and still colloquially) known as Heinz Field, is a football stadium located in the North Shore neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Foot ...
,
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...
. Leading up to the game, both teams were featured on
HBO
Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television service, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based a ...
's ''
24/7
In commerce and industry, 24/7 or 24-7 service (usually pronounced "twenty-four seven") is service that is available at any time and usually, every day. An alternate orthography for the numerical part includes 24×7 (usually pronounced "twenty- ...
'', which offered a behind-the-scenes look at both teams as they prepared. Laich refused to blame the presence of the cameras for the team's losing streak, saying, "There's no using the HBO cameras as a crutch or an annoyance or anything like that. There's no excuse. I don't think HBO has played any bit of an ounce in how things have gone the last two weeks."
Laich was appreciative of the opportunities afforded by the outdoor game, and was happy to be able to share time with his family and friends on the outdoor rink set up at Heinz Field.
On June 28, 2011, Laich signed a six-year, $27 million contract extension worth $4.5 million per season.
As the player representative for the Washington Capitals during the
2012 NHL-NHLPA CBA negotiations, Laich stated in support of the
National Hockey League Players' Association
The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA, ) is the trade union, labour union for the group of professional List of NHL players, hockey players who are under Standard Player Contracts to the 32 member clubs in the National Hockey ...
(NHLPA) that, "At some point you have to dig your heels in and fight. If we don't this time, then what happens next? Appeasement only makes the aggressor more aggressive, and the players really understand that. We believe in our cause and our leadership and I believe we're more unified this time and ready for a fight."
Prior to the start of the lockout-shortened 2012-2013 playing season, Laich played for the
Kloten Flyers
EHC Kloten is an ice hockey team based in the city of Kloten in Switzerland. The team plays in the National League (NL). It has one of the best youth systems in Swiss ice hockey as its youth teams have won 19 championships during the last 50 year ...
of Switzerland's National League. In 35 games for the Flyers, Laich posted 17 goals and a total of 38 points. He also reportedly suffered a groin injury, which limited his play upon his return stateside with the NHL. When play resumed for the 2012–13 season, Laich was limited to nine games.
On March 17, 2014, the Capitals announced via
Twitter
Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...
that Laich "underwent a successful procedure to release a tight adductor," a part of the groin muscle. He is expected to miss the rest of the season with a recovery time of four-to-six weeks.
Except for a minor shoulder injury resulting in him missing 16 games, Laich returned to full health in 2014-15. He finished with seven goals and 20 points in 66 games played.
In the
2015–16 season, Laich's offensive production rapidly declined, while his $4.5 million cap hit stuck out as one of the only adverse aspects of a league-leading Capitals squad. On February 27, 2016, the Capitals placed Laich on waivers for the purpose of sending him to the
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The Bears have played in the American Hockey League (AHL) since the 1938–39 season, making it the longest continuously operating member club of the league still ...
of the
AHL. The following day, on the eve of the trade deadline, Laich, along with
Connor Carrick
Connor Carrick (born April 13, 1994) is an Americans, American professional ice hockey Defenceman, defenseman who is currently playing with HC Lugano in the National League (ice hockey), National League (NL). He was selected by the Washington Cap ...
and a second round selection (
Carl Grundström
Carl Grundström (born 1 December 1997) is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Grundström was selected in the second round, 57th overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 201 ...
) in the
2016 draft, were traded to the
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
, his boyhood team, in exchange for
Daniel Winnik
Daniel Spencer Winnik (born March 6, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. He played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) and played his final six seasons in Switzerland for Genève-Servette HC.
Playing career
...
and a fifth round pick (Beck Malenstyn) in the 2016 draft. The purpose of the trade was to give the Capitals salary cap relief to use toward younger core player contracts that needed re-signing the following off-season. Capitals GM Brian Maclellan called the trade, when asked, the hardest thing he had done as General Manager of the team. Laich had been the longest tenured active professional Washington-area athlete at the time of the trade, concluding his career of 12 years with the franchise. In what easily stands as the most emotional trade in Capitals history since Laich was dealt to Washington in a package for Peter Bondra, one journalist wrote "It's ironic that money is what ultimately forced the Caps to move Laich. This is a guy who loves the game so much, he'd probably play for free."
Laich returned to Washington a few days later where the Capitals honored the centreman with a video tribute during the first period and a long standing ovation from the hometown fans and his former teammates.
The Maple Leafs would lose the game 3-2. Finishing out the season in Toronto, Laich's offensive statistics improved significantly, recording identical numbers to what he scored in Washington while playing in a third of the games.
As a free agent from the Maple Leafs, Laich was unsigned over the summer. He later accepted a try-out contract to attend the
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...
' training camp. Despite suffering an early injury, Laich returned to impress in the preseason, however was ultimately released prior to the
2017–18 season. With the Kings suffering from injury through the early stages of the campaign, he returned to the fold in signing a one-year, $650,000 deal on October 19, 2017. On November 25, Laich was placed on waivers by the Kings, and was later assigned to their AHL affiliate, the
Ontario Reign
The Ontario Reign are a professional ice hockey team based in Ontario, California. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the National Hockey League's Los Angeles Kings. The team plays its home games at the Toyota Arena.
The fra ...
. Having recorded 1 assist in 12 games with the Kings and before reporting to the Reign, Laich was placed on unconditional waivers, opting for a mutual termination of his contract on November 27, 2017. On June 25, 2021, Laich formally announced his retirement.
International play
Laich debuted with Team Canada at the
2003 World Junior Championships, which were held in
Halifax,
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...
.
In a game against Sweden, Laich scored Canada's first goal of the tournament.
He scored two goals and added four assists in six games at the tournament, where Canada won a silver medal.
According to his father, Harold, his son had always dreamed of playing for Canada.
Laich's next experience with Team Canada came at the
2010 World Championships. He scored one goal in seven games as Canada finished seventh.
During the tournament in a game against
Russia
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
, Laich raised the ire of his Capitals' teammate
Semyon Varlamov
Semyon Aleksandrovich Varlamov ( rus, links=y, Семён Александрович Варламов, , sʲɪˈmʲɵn vɐrˈlaməf; born 27 April 1988) is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender for the New York Islanders of the National H ...
for slashing and cross-checking
Alexander Ovechkin
Alexander Mikhailovich Ovechkin (, ; born 17September 1985) is a Russian professional ice hockey Winger (ice hockey), left winger and Captain (ice hockey), captain of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "the ...
. Varlamov said of Laich's play, "...Brooks Laich was constantly trying to slash and cross-check him (Ovechkin) as painful
icas possible. After the game, he certainly wished me luck and victory at the world championship, but the unpleasant impression still remains."
Playing style
In 2009, Capitals' Head Coach
Bruce Boudreau
Bruce Allan Boudreau ( ; born January 9, 1955) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He previously served as head coach of the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, and Vancouver Canucks of the National H ...
believed that Laich had not yet reached his full potential, saying, "...I still don't think we've seen the best of Brooks. I think he's going to be a 25-, 30-goal scorer in this league and become a staple for a while."
Boudreau also said Laich is considered one of the hardest working players on the Capitals' roster by his coaches and teammates.
Part of Laich's inspiration comes from his father, who, during a 34-year tenure as a high school principal, only missed three days of work.
With the Capitals, Laich played on the
power play
"Power play" is a sporting term used to describe a period of play where one team has a numerical advantage in players, usually due to a rule violation by the opposing team.
Temporary numerical advantage in players during a team sport
In several ...
and
killed penalties in addition to his ice time at even strength.
Laich has been lauded for his leadership and was considered for a more formal role in the team's leadership structure in 2009.
Laich is a hard worker, and dedicated to his team, saying, "If I asked you about your family, you would talk about them forever because it's something you love. That's the way I feel about this team. This team is my life, and I love playing here and I'm passionate about playing hockey. So it's easy for me to talk about it."
Boudreau has said, "You are never going to find a guy that cares more than Brooks Laich."
Laich spends time in the off-season with a power skating instructor, which he feels is key to a long career.
Personal life
Laich has two siblings, an older sister and younger brother.
His father worked as a high school teacher and principal.
In his free time, he plays guitar and golf.
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...
star
Joe Sakic
Joseph Steven Sakic (; () born July 7, 1969) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. He played his entire 21-year National Hockey League (NHL) career, which lasted from 1988 to 2009, with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado ...
was Laich's favorite player growing up.
His favourite team was the
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
, whom he used to dream of captaining.
He is actively involved in charity work, supporting charities related to
multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease resulting in damage to myelinthe insulating covers of nerve cellsin the brain and spinal cord. As a demyelinating disease, MS disrupts the nervous system's ability to Action potential, transmit ...
and Athletes Against
Autism
Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences or difficulties in social communication and interaction, a preference for predictability and routine, sensory processing d ...
.
While still playing junior hockey, Laich helped his hometown of Wawota raise money to purchase a
Zamboni
An ice resurfacer is a vehicle or hand-pushed device for cleaning and smoothing the surface of a sheet of ice, usually in an ice rink. The first ice resurfacer was developed by American inventor and engineer Frank Zamboni in 1949 in Paramount, ...
for the local arena.
Laich received national media attention when he stopped to help two stranded Capitals fans change their
flat tire
A flat tire (British English: flat tyre) is a deflated Tire, pneumatic tire, which can cause the rim of the wheel to ride on the tire tread or the ground potentially resulting in loss of control of the vehicle or irreparable damage to the tire. T ...
after a Game 7 loss in the
2010 playoffs against the
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...
. When he came across the woman and her teenaged daughter stranded on the
Theodore Roosevelt Bridge
The Theodore Roosevelt Bridge (also known as the Teddy Roosevelt Bridge, Roosevelt Bridge, or T.R. Bridge) is a bridge crossing the Potomac River which connects Washington, D.C., with the Commonwealth of Virginia. The bridge crosses over Theodore ...
, Laich stopped to install their spare and apologized for the club's early loss in the playoffs.
For his efforts, Laich was hockey analyst Michael Farber's nominee for the 2010
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. When asked about the incident, Laich responded, "It's not a big deal. It was just a tire. The lady was stranded on the side of the road, I saw that it was just a lady and her daughter, and I figured my tire expertise outweighed hers."
In February 2014, it was revealed that Laich started dating professional dancer and actress
Julianne Hough
Julianne Alexandra Hough (; born July 20, 1988) is an American dancer, singer, actress and television personality. In 2007, she joined the cast of ABC's ''Dancing with the Stars'' as a professional dancer, winning two seasons with her celebrit ...
. On August 18, 2015, Laich officially announced via Instagram that he and Hough were engaged. The couple were married on July 8, 2017. They resided in Los Angeles, California with their
husky
Husky is a general term for a type of dog used in the polar regions, primarily and specifically for work as sled dogs. It refers to a traditional northern type, notable for its cold-weather tolerance and overall hardiness. Modern racing huskies ...
named Koda. They announced their split on May 29, 2020, but reconciled by early September. Hough filed for divorce on November 2, 2020 and it was finalized in 2022.
After his split from Hough, Laich announced his relationship with two-time CrossFit Games champion
Katrín Davíðsdóttir
Katrín Tanja Davíðsdóttir (; born 10 May 1993) is an Icelandic former CrossFit athlete known for her ten appearances at the CrossFit Games. That was from 2012 to 2023, with the exception of 2014 and 2022. She is the women's champion of the 2 ...
on Instagram in August 2021. They announced their engagement in December 2024.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
''Statistics source''
International
''Statistics source''
Awards and honors
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laich, Brooks
1983 births
Living people
Binghamton Senators players
Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in Switzerland
Canadian ice hockey centres
Hershey Bears players
Ice hockey people from Saskatchewan
EHC Kloten players
Los Angeles Kings players
Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Moose Jaw Warriors players
Ottawa Senators draft picks
Ottawa Senators players
Portland Pirates players
Seattle Thunderbirds players
Toronto Maple Leafs players
Toronto Marlies players
Washington Capitals players
21st-century Canadian sportsmen