T.J. Oshie retires: Relive best Olympics, NHL moments from former USA, Capitals star

Capitals forward T.J. Oshie announced his retirement from hockey on Monday, June 9. He had a lengthy 17-year career between his time with the Blues and the Capitals.

Oshie was named an All-Star in 2020 and retired with one Stanley Cup win with Washington in 2018. He played in 1,010 games and hung up his skates with 302 goals and 393 assists. Oshie will be remembered for his intense play style, but it was his performance for Team USA in the 2016 Olympics that made him a household name. He built on that with his Stanley Cup win, and a brave face on the ice after the passing of his father. 

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Here are some of the best moments from Oshie’s extensive hockey career.

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T.J. Oshie retires

Oshie retired as a member of the Capitals.

He made his announcement at the Washington Harbour, a notable location because he and his Washington teammates had notably celebrated their Stanley Cup win by swimming in the fountain seven years prior. 

Best moments from his NHL career

T.J. Oshie Olympic shootout

Oshie had been in the league for a decade and had become known as a solid player for the Blues, and had just finished his first season with the Capitals. He made the Team USA roster for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. While Team USA didn’t end up at the medal ceremony, they matched up with Russia in the group stage. Russia had been known as a powerhouse in hockey, and teams matched up in a pivotal final Group game that had fans thinking of ‘Miracle’ from the 1980 Winter Olympics. 

The match went into a shootout after a potential game-winning goal from Russia in the third period was disallowed. International shootouts have a unique format, with the coach selecting three skaters to take the penalty shots, with the teams alternating. The winner is determined by whoever scores more in the first three rounds, or after that, when a team scores in a round and the opponent doesn’t match it. 

Oshie took the first shot and scored. Russia responded, and Oshie’s teammates were unable to score their own goals. Oshie scored two more goals, since after the third round, the players aren’t required to rotate anymore. Each time Russia scored, Oshie came in clutch and kept the team alive.

Finally, after Russia missed two shots in a row, Oshie was able to capitalize, and on his sixth penalty shot, he finally netted the game-winner. 

T.J. Oshie talks about his dad after Stanley Cup win

Oshie retired with only one Stanley Cup win in his career. It was the crowning achievement of his NHL tenure, and he even said that it was the best moment of his life that wasn’t his wedding day or the birth of his children.

In the post-game interview, an emotional Oshie talked about how his father was in attendance, who had Alzheimer’s. Oshie had an iconic line saying, “He doesn’t remember a lot of stuff, but you bet your a— he’s gonna remember this one.”

T.J. Oshie hat trick after his dad passed

It was known how special a relationship he had with his dad. After his father passed away in 2021, Oshie netted a hat trick in his first game back and was very emotional after it. 

T.J. Oshie swims in fountain with Stanley Cup

Oshie and the Capitals took their Stanley Cup all over the city to celebrate with the fans. One of the more iconic stops was the team going to the fountain at the Washington Harbour and swimming with the trophy. 

T.J. Oshie age

Oshie was born on December 23, 1986. He is 38 years old, and would’ve turned 39 during the next season if he hadn’t retired.

He was drafted by the Blues with the 24th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft. He decided to skip his senior season at the University of North Dakota and joined St. Louis instead.