He replaces Charles "Chip" Burke, who had been with the team since 1984 and had been the team's lead doctor since '88.

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1 Daily Clips 7/21/12 New team physician appointed By Shelly Anderson / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Penguins named Christopher Harner, who last week was appointed president of the American Orthepaedic Society for Sports Medicine, as new head team physician Friday. He replaces Charles "Chip" Burke, who had been with the team since 1984 and had been the team's lead doctor since '88. Although Burke came under criticism in relation to star center Sidney Crosby's medical treatment for a concussion and neck injury over the past 18 months, there is no indication that played a part in cutting ties. The Penguins said in a statement that the switch is "part of an overall restructuring of the Penguins medical program -- a transition spurred by the recent announcement of the new UPMC performance training center and practice rink in Cranberry." That facility is scheduled to open in 2014, and players will have access to UPMC doctors in more than 15 specialties, some of them replacing specialists who previously worked with the Penguins. Names of the incoming or outgoing specialists were not available. A club official said the Penguins had no comment beyond the statement announcing the moves, and that Harner publicly would discuss the new setup at a later date. It is believed that Burke, 57, worked under an arrangement rather than a contract. The specifics of Harner's relationship with the Penguins haven't been made public. In a change in medical policy, Harner or one of two others on the team medical staff -- associate team physician Tanya Hagen and assistant team physician Dharmesh Vyas -- will travel to all Penguins road games. In November, Penguins defenseman Kris Letang was deemed OK by Canadiens medical staff to return to a game in Montreal after taking a hit to the head from Max Pacioretty. Letang scored the winning goal in overtime, but subsequently was diagnosed with a concussion and sat out 21 games. Harner, an orthopedic surgeon, is one of the founders of and practices at UPMC Center for Sports Medicine on the South Side. He is a professor of orthopedic surgery at Pitt and has

2 trained more than 80 sports medicine physicians as director of the UPMC sports medicine fellowship program. Burke, an orthopedic surgeon who performed knee surgery on reigning NHL scoring champion and MVP Evgeni Malkin in February 2011, also has a long list of credentials. He has a private practice, Burke & Bradley Orthopedics, with Steelers head physician Jim Bradley. He has a long affiliation with USA Hockey, including serving as the team physician for the Americans at the 2002 Olympics. He also is past president of the NHL Team Physicians Society and led the way in the development of the NHL concussion program. It was Crosby's concussion, though, that led to calls in some quarters for Burke to be replaced. Burke was the point man and had authority to clear Crosby, although Crosby's diagnoses and a lot of his specific treatments were handled by several specialists, including Micky Collins of UPMC and others around the country. Crosby took a big hit from Washington's David Steckel in the outdoor Winter Classic Jan. 1, 2011, but was cleared to return to that game and played in the next game, when he took another hit to the head from Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman. He was subsequently diagnosed with a concussion and missed the rest of the season. He did not play again until Nov. 21, After eight games, he was back out of the lineup until March 15. In the interim, he was diagnosed with a soft-tissue neck injury. At a Jan. 31 news conference announcing the neck injury, Crosby said he was satisfied with his medical care, and general manager Ray Shero endorsed the team's medical staff when asked about the criticism. "Every player that we've had is encouraged to get a second or third opinion on any injury that they had," Shero said. "One of the things to make clear is... we're in constant contact with Sidney and the doctors. Everything goes through our medical team after he sees these other consultants. We're all in this together." In their statement Friday, the Penguins lauded Burke and others who are being replaced. "We... would like to thank Dr. Charles Burke, who has been such an integral part of the Penguins medical team over the past 24 years," CEO and president David Morehouse said in the statement. "We appreciate all the outstanding services provided by Dr. Burke and his team of specialists and wish them the best in the future." Pens name new team doctor

3 By Josh Yohe Published: Friday, July 20, 2012, 5:12 p.m. Updated 12 hours ago The Penguins named Dr. Christopher Harner as their lead physician, the signature move in an overhaul of the franchise s medical staff. Harner, an orthopedic surgeon, is replacing Dr. Charles Burke, who was dismissed July 10. Burke had been the head team doctor since Harner is one of the founders of UPMC Center for Sports Medicine and will be joined by two specialists Dr. Tanya Hagen (associate team physician) and Dr. Dharmesh Vyas (assistant team physician) in overseeing the Penguins. Hagen specializes in internal medicine, Vyas in orthopedic surgery. The Penguins will have access to more than 15 UPMC specialists as part of the medical staff changes. UPMC and the Penguins have agreed to construct a practice facility in Cranberry and are awaiting approval from township officials. One of the Penguins three lead physicians will accompany the team on the road. The Chicago Blackhawks currently are the only NHL team to travel with their own doctor. Burke, 57, who oversaw center Sidney Crosby s concussion treatment and Mario Lemieux s career-long back problems, told the Tribune-Review on Thursday night he was informed July 10 that he and the team s medical staff were being dismissed. The Penguins will retain trainer Chris Stewart, assistant trainer Scott Adams and strength and conditioning coach Mike Kadar. Penguins CEO David Morehouse, who could not be reached for comment, said in a prepared statement that Burke has been such an integral part of the medical team over the past 24 years. Pittsburgh Penguins fire medical staff DAVID SHOALTS

4 The Globe and Mail The doctor who was at the centre of at least some of the controversy surrounding the treatment of Sidney Crosby s concussion problems has parted company with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Dr. Charles Burke, 57, an orthopaedic surgeon whose association with the NHL team goes back to 1983, left the team along with the rest of the medical staff on July 10. The Penguins announced Friday they now have an official association with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, with three of its specialists in charge of their medical treatment next season. However, the Penguins carefully avoided any connection between Crosby s concussion and the change in their medical team. Those close to the team say Crosby and his advisors, who eventually sought outside treatment, did not have anything to do with the departure of Burke. The change is said to be connected with a new business venture between the Penguins and UPMC rather than any lingering resentment over the handling of Crosby s concussion. The team and the medical centre plan to open a training and sports medicine centre in 2014 in a northern Pittsburgh suburb. One source with knowledge of the move said the parting was amicable between Burke, who was never paid for his services, and the Penguins. He is helping them make the transition to the new system. Penguins general manager Ray Shero is on vacation and could not be reached for comment. We anticipate that the UPMC performance training centre will become the pre-eminent centre in North America for hockey training and rehab, Penguins president David Morehouse said in a statement released by the team. We also would like to thank Dr. Charles Burke, who has been such an integral part of the Penguins medical team over the past 24 years. We appreciate all the outstanding services provided by Dr. Burke and his team of specialists and wish them the best in the future. The new head physician for the Penguins is Dr. Christopher Harner, who is the president of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. Two other UPMC doctors will join him as the team physicians. Also part of the new plan is for one of the three doctors to travel to all of the Penguins road games. This makes them only the second NHL team, in addition to the Chicago Blackhawks, to have their own physician at their regular-season road games. This also played a role in Burke s departure. While he is affiliated with the UPMC, he is not a staff member like Harner and the new team. Burke has a private practice, which makes it difficult for him to travel with the Penguins.

5 The venture with the UPMC is part of a trend in professional sports. While many teams still use unpaid medical professionals, who trade the perquisites of an association with a professional team for their services, others enter into business relationships with medical centres. The NFL s Pittsburgh Steelers, for example, already have a similar arrangement with the UPMC at their practice facility. In addition to a sports medicine clinic and treatment centre, the facility will have two ice rinks and training centre. The Penguins will use it as a practice facility and it is also expected to attract elite players from the northeast and midwest. The staff at the new centre will be provided by the UPMC and there will be more than 15 specialists available for the Penguins. The Penguins former medical team was the subject of criticism after Crosby was hit on the head Jan. 1, 2011 during the annual NHL Winter Classic. Crosby was allowed to play four days later and suffered another head injury. The doctors then diagnosed a concussion on Jan. 6, which began a long period of recovery and uncertainty for the Penguins superstar. Crosby, 24, finally came back to play in late November but was injured again after eight games. By that time, he moved away from the Penguins doctors and consulted outside physicians, one of whom diagnosed a neck injury that was previously undetected. He was able to play late in the season and finished with 37 points in 22 games. Burke was not involved in the day-to-day treatment of Crosby by the concussion team that initially treated him, which was from UPMC. But as the team physician it was his responsibility to clear Crosby to play. Crosby never publicly criticized the Penguins doctors during his lengthy recovery.

New Penguins coach to meet with Malkin By Josh Yohe

Daily Clips 7/24/14 New Penguins coach to meet with Malkin By Josh Yohe Penguins coach Mike Johnston is traveling to Russia this weekend to visit center Evgeni Malkin. What if Malkin can't reciprocate