THESE IS THE BEST NEWS WE COULD HOPE FOR: Pittsburgh Pirate Professional Ice community NHL are overjoyed as head coach Don Kelly makes Announcements of making star centre Andrew McCutchen the….see more

In what might be the most thrilling  and most unexpected  announcement in the history of Pittsburgh sports, Don Kelly, head coach of the Pittsburgh Pirates Ice Hockey Club, took the podium at PPG Paints Arena this morning and declared what no one saw coming:

**“Andrew McCutchen will officially join the Pirates’ ice hockey roster as our top-line center — and the face of our franchise moving forward.”**

Yes, *that* Andrew McCutchen — the Pittsburgh baseball icon, five-time MLB All-Star, 2013 NL MVP, and lifelong Pirate — is trading his bat and glove for skates and a stick.

And believe it or not, the city of Pittsburgh couldn’t be more thrilled.

### **“This is More Than a Game – It’s a Pittsburgh Story” — Don Kelly**

Coach Kelly, already known for his unconventional approach and deep roots in the city, spoke with electric enthusiasm. Flanked by team executives, hockey staff, and McCutchen himself — dressed in a sleek black-and-gold hockey sweater — Kelly delivered a heartfelt message that brought both reporters and fans to their feet.

“This is more than sports. It’s about bringing heart, leadership, and community into the fabric of this team,” said Kelly. “Andrew McCutchen isn’t just a baseball legend — he’s a Pittsburgh legend. His work ethic, character, and competitiveness make him a natural center, both literally and figuratively, for what we’re building on the ice.”

The announcement comes just weeks after the Pittsburgh Pirates Ice Hockey Club — a newly expanded NHL franchise introduced earlier this year — finalized its inaugural roster. The team, sharing the “Pirates” name and working in partnership with the city’s beloved MLB club, made it clear from the beginning that it wanted to be “a team built by Pittsburgh, for Pittsburgh.”

Now, they’ve made that mission personal.

### **“I’m Not Done Competing” — Andrew McCutchen**

Standing tall with a wide grin, 38-year-old Andrew McCutchen took the mic and delivered an emotional, humble, and surprisingly confident speech.

“When I retired from baseball earlier this year, I knew I wasn’t done competing,” McCutchen said. “I’ve always loved hockey — loved the city’s passion for it. This opportunity came along, and at first I thought it was crazy. But the more I skated, the more I trained… I knew I had one more run in me. And I wanted that run to be here.”

According to team officials, McCutchen has been training on the ice in secret for the past nine months, working with skating coaches, stickhandling instructors, and even former Penguins legends like Pascal Dupuis and Brooks Orpik to learn the fundamentals.

The results, by all accounts, have been jaw-dropping.

“He’s a natural,” said assistant coach Dave Scuderi. “He has explosive acceleration, sharp hockey sense, and hands that translate shockingly well from the batter’s box to the ice. We aren’t just signing him as a gimmick — he *earned* that C on his chest.”

Indeed, McCutchen was also named the team’s **first-ever captain**, a gesture that speaks volumes about his leadership and the belief this team has in his ability to inspire a locker room.

### **From Diamond to Rink: A Pittsburgh First**

McCutchen becomes the first modern athlete to transition from Major League Baseball to the National Hockey League — an accomplishment that might have seemed impossible even a year ago. But in a city where sports legends walk among regular citizens, and blue-collar toughness is currency, it makes perfect sense.

For fans, this announcement is more than a headline — it’s an emotional full-circle moment. McCutchen, who spent over a decade as the face of the baseball Pirates, returns to represent the city once again — just on a different surface.

### **Fan Reactions: “Put the Statue Up Now”**

Within hours of the announcement, social media exploded with reactions ranging from stunned disbelief to overwhelming support:

> “McCutchen in a hockey uniform? This is the greatest crossover event in Pittsburgh history.” – @YinzHockeyNation
>
> “You could’ve given me 1,000 guesses and I would’ve *never* seen this coming. But I love it. Heart of the city.” – @BlackGoldFaithful
>
> “Statue outside PPG Paints Arena. Now. Before puck drop.” – @CutchForever87

Downtown Pittsburgh saw fans gather near both PNC Park and PPG Paints Arena, many holding signs with slogans like “Cutch on Ice” and “Center of Our Hearts.”

Merchandise sales for “McCutchen #22” hockey jerseys hit record levels within the first three hours, with the team’s official store reporting inventory sold out by midday.

Even **Sidney Crosby**, captain of the cross-town Penguins, gave a shout-out during offseason training:

> “Cutch is one of the most respected athletes in this city. I wouldn’t want to block his shot,” Crosby joked. “But I’d love to see him score one.”

### **What This Means for the Team**

The Pirates Ice Hockey Club, set to play its inaugural NHL season this fall, now begins with a face familiar to every Pittsburgh sports fan. With a mix of young talent and seasoned NHL veterans, the team is hoping McCutchen can bridge the gap — both on the ice and in the locker room.

Analysts may remain skeptical — after all, McCutchen has never played professional hockey before — but insiders who’ve seen him scrimmage say his transition is real.

“Everyone underestimates Andrew,” said GM Brandon Fitzgerald. “That’s fine. That’s how he likes it. But come opening night, people are going to see just how serious this is.”

### **Opening Night: October 10th vs. Flyers**

The NHL confirmed that the Pirates’ debut game — a nationally televised match against the Philadelphia Flyers — will now feature Andrew McCutchen as the starting center. Demand for tickets has skyrocketed, and resale prices have already quadrupled.

Expect a sold-out crowd, a standing ovation, and perhaps the loudest “Let’s Go Cutch” chant the city has ever heard.

### **The Final Word: Legacy, Redefined**

Andrew McCutchen could have walked away from sports as a Pittsburgh hero, a legacy cemented in baseball greatness. But now, he’s chasing something more — not for stats or fame, but for love of the game, and love of the city.

“Whether I’m swinging a bat or skating down the middle,” he said, eyes glinting, “I’m doing it for Pittsburgh. I’m doing it for the people who believed in me from day one.”

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**And in that, maybe this *is* the best news we could hope for.**

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