Longtime Ottawa Senator & 12-Year Veteran Defenseman Announces Retirement

Longtime Ottawa Senator and 12-year veteran defenseman, Mark Borowiecki, has announced his retirement from professional hockey.

Borowiecki played for over 12 seasons, starting with his hometown team, the Ottawa Senators, before moving on to the Nashville Predators for his final two-plus seasons.

Former Senators and Predators defenceman Mark Borowiecki has announced his retirement from the NHL. @DailyFaceoff pic.twitter.com/jn1gS2s9AI

— Mike Gould (@miketgould) May 3, 2023

He played in over 450 NHL games and was known for his toughness and hitting ability, earning him the nickname "Boro Cop."

Borowiecki's last game was on October 22, 2022, during which he suffered an injury after an awkward hit into the boards, was hospitalized, and placed on injured reserve.

He was subsequently unable to play again and decided to retire.

Over his career, the 33-year-old recorded 15 goals and 56 points across 458 games, also racking up 848 penalty minutes.

Mark Borowiecki has retired from the NHL. #Preds

Boro cop played 458 games with 9 seasons in Ottawa & 3 in Nashville.

He last played on Oct. 22 vs the Philadelphia Flyers.

— Nick Kieser 🏒 (@KieserNick) May 3, 2023

In his retirement announcement on Instagram, Borowiecki expressed excitement for a new chapter in the hockey world, where he hopes to contribute to the growth of the sport and assist in developing other players. Borowiecki was highly respected for his positive attitude and community involvement, participating in various charitable initiatives throughout his career.

Borowiecki was also open about his struggles with mental health and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and was Nashville's nominee for the 2022 Masterton Trophy. He hopes to continue helping others in the future, paying forward the support he received during his career.

Mark Borowiecki is exactly the kind of community ambassador the Senators need to hire.

— Graeme Nichols (@GraemeNichols) May 3, 2023

In his retirement announcement, Borowiecki shared a conversation he had with a veteran NHL player when he was a rookie, who asked him about his desired legacy.

The player told him that being recognized as a good person and teammate would be more meaningful than on-ice achievements, and Borowiecki hopes he has achieved that. Photo Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports