Former NHL winger Marian Gaborik is celebrating an important milestone.
The 43-year-old, remembered for his incredible speed, had an extremely impressive 17-year career that saw him play for the Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, LA Kings, and Ottawa Senators.
Gaborik took to Instagram on Wednesday afternoon to announce that he has officially gone seven-straight years without alcohol. His start date on this journey came just shortly after his final NHL season in 2017-18.
“Today is 7 years without a drop of alcohol,” Gaborik wrote on Instagram. “I’m happy that I can inspire and help people. Very grateful and let’s keep going strong.”
“That’s amazing buddy, congratulations,” wrote another former NHLer, Wojtek Wolski. The two spent time together with the Rangers during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.
“Keep it up, buddy,” added fellow Slovakian hockey star Zdeno Chara.
Gaborik played in a total of 1,035 career NHL games, during which time he put up an impressive 407 goals and 815 points. He also suited up for 84 playoff outings and was a part of the Kings’ Stanley Cup-winning roster in 2013-14. During that run, he scored a team-leading 14 goals and 22 points in 26 outings.
The Slovakian winger surpassed the 40-goal mark three times in his career, while the 86 points he had in 2009-10 marked a personal best.
As impressive as Gaborik’s career was, it’s equally, if not even more impressive and admirable to see the changes he’s making in his personal life in order to benefit himself and likely those around him. He appears to now live in his native Slovakia with his wife Ivana Gaborik and their two daughters.
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