Ex-Penguin back in fold
CRANBERRY TWP — UPMC on Wednesday introduced the man who will oversee the sports medicine department at the new UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, and it's a familiar name to fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Officials from both UPMC and the Pittsburgh Penguins welcomed former player Gary Roberts at the facility.
Roberts, who doesn't yet have an official title, will be the name and face of UPMC's sports medicine complex at the new facility.
Roberts, 48, knows a thing or two about training, conditioning and recovering from injuries.
The veteran spent nearly 25 years in the National Hockey League, overcoming career-threatening injuries to his neck on more than one occasion.
His intense training and fitness regimen has been credited with dramatically lengthening his career.
Following his retirement from hockey in 2009, Roberts devoted his time to training young players coming up through the ranks.
Roberts played with the Penguins from 2006 to 2008 and was a big part of a team that went to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2008. He retired from hockey in 2009 at the age of 42.
Speaking Wednesday, Roberts said it wasn't a hard choice coming back to the Pittsburgh area.
“How I was treated here left a humbling mark on me,” said Roberts, noting that his teammates, the fans and the media always treated him kindly.
The retired player said he hopes to bring an “encompassing, holistic” approach to healing, training and sports medicine in general. It will be the same philosophy that enabled Roberts to have such a long and fruitful NHL career.
“I can't wait to get started,” Roberts said, noting he will start his position when the facility opens in August.
Roberts will be employed by UPMC, but will also serve as a consultant and adviser to the Penguins.
David Morehouse, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Penguins, said after the event that Roberts represents the “epitome of preparation” when it comes to getting his body ready for competition.
“We were looking for the best and Gary Roberts is the best,” Morehouse said in regards to his conditioning and training philosophies.
Morehouse also said that it wasn't hard to convince Roberts to come back to Pittsburgh, a place he loved during his tenure here.
“It wasn't a hard sell,” he said.
Morehouse called Roberts the “name, face and attitude” of the new sports medicine complex, and added that he will treat people of all ages, not just professional athletes.
The sports medicine facility will have 24 exam rooms, physical therapy areas and X-ray and other imaging technologies.
