Mark Borowiecki retires from NHL

After a 12-year career, Mark Borowiecki announced his retirement on his Instagram profile this afternoon.

The first Ottawa born player drafted by the Senators, Borowiecki made a name for himself as a physical player on the blue line. Playing 375 career games for the Senators teammates always knew they could rely on Borowiecki as a defacto enforcer of the group.

Borowiecki was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the fifth round of the 2008 NHL Draft, 139th overall following which he went to on to play three seasons of NCAA hockey at Clarkson University. After opting to conclude his time at Clarkson Borowiecki spent the next two seasons flipping between the Binghampton Senators and the Ottawa Senators before cracking the Senators top-6 defence group at the start of the 2014-15 NHL season.

Overall he played nine seasons with the Senators before signing with the Nashville Predators at the beginning of the 2020 NHL season where he played right until the end. In 458 career games spanning 12 seasons, Boro scored 15 goals and added 41 assists for 56 career points.

While he was beloved in Ottawa for his physical play on the ice, he really made his name off the ice. Philanthropically he had his finger prints on all kinds of initiatives. From the Capital City Condors which provides an opportunity for those with cognitive and physical disabilities to play the game of hockey, to an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ2S+ community in his active involvement in the Capital Pride Parade. Additionally, he was heavily involved with the Soldier On initiative and even after his tenture with the Senators came to an end, Boro played a role in the Ottawa-Gatineau Youth Foundation.

Video: Borowiecki, Sens staff march in Capital Pride Parade

Boro built a reputation on and off the ice but surely will forever be remembered for the time that he stopped a robbery while out for a walk in Vancouver. Truly living up to his nickname of 'BoroCop.'

While this may be the end of his career 'RoboCop' will have a lasting legacy here in the nations capital. Congratulations on a great career, Boro!