Lapierre & Iorio Are As Close As Brothers. Now At The Highest Level With The Capitals, They Continue To Lean On Each Other

ARLINGTON, V.A. — Washington Capitals up-and-comers Hendrix Lapierre and Vincent Iorio are each other's biggest supporters.

Since meeting at a 2021 summer camp for World Juniors, Lapierre and Iorio have stuck together and pushed each other to elevate their game, forming a brotherly bond along the way that's remained through juniors, through their rookie AHL campaigns that saw them hoist the Calder Cup with the Hershey Bears last new and now at the highest level as they chase their dream with the Capitals.

"It's really fun," Lapierre said of being up at the highest level with Iorio, who was called up to fill in for Ethan Bear and has been thrown into the lineup with Rasmus Sandin likely out for the rest of the season. "It's unreal to have him here. I've said this a lot of times before, but he's probably the guy I'm closest to in Hershey, and I have a really good relationship with him."

Related: Capitals Injury Update: Sandin Not Expected To Be Back Before End Of Regular Season

Lapierre hasn't spent too much time in Hershey this year, as the departures of Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov led to him all but formally graduating to the NHL and securing a spot as a top center. Through 47 games this year, the rookie has eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points, and he also ranks third among rookies in scoring since Feb. 26.

"He's had a phenomenal year, and he's one of the hardest workers I know," Iorio said of Lapierre. "He puts the time in, and to see him have success so far is awesome."

When Iorio got the call that he would be joining the Capitals for this final stretch, Lapierre was the first person he reached out to.

"He was really happy about it," Iorio said with a smile.

Related: Lindgren Blunt After Capitals Lose For 7th Time In 8 Games & Fall Back Out Of Playoff Spot: 'If We Come Up Short, It Doesn't Mean As Much'

Of course, getting back up to the NHL wasn't easy for Iorio. The 21-year-old had a shakier start to the season, which he explained had a lot to do with him doing too much with the puck. Lapierre wasn't in Hershey much to see his former housemate but did say that he noticed major strides as Iorio worked to turn things around.

"At the start of the year, he was playing well, but I knew there was another Vinny that I could see, you know? There was someone else, and I don't know if it was a matter of confidence or whatever. He was playing good, but I think he sets a high standard for himself and we all know what he can accomplish," Lapierre said. "And as the season kind of went on, every time I got sent down, I was like, 'Okay, Vinny's getting better,' like he's making the right reads, stuff like that, and at the end, it was like, 'Okay, he's dialled in, he's been playing pretty good."

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Iorio leads Hershey with a plus/minus rating of plus-26, and he also has four goals and 10 assists for 14 points through 60 games. His strong play and visible growth over this last stretch for the AHL-leading Bears ultimately helped him back to the highest level.

"Every time he's on the ice, good stuff happens, and I think he's just a really smart defenseman... I know the Vinny that he can be and it's really impressive, and I feel like right now, he's right there," Lapierre added.

The Capitals have three games left on the regular season circuit as they continue to fight for a playoff spot. And Lapierre and Iorio, it's been fun to be a part of a playoff push, especially after winning it all last season in the minors.

"You grow up as a fan and you cheer for your team that you grew up watching and when they're in the playoff race, you got a little extra excitement, but to be in the dressing room, to see it firsthand, it's something else," Iorio said. "It's something that's not to be taken for granted."

And of course, their friendship is just a bonus, whether it be playing "seven up, seven down" and leading card games or grabbing a bite to eat.

"We spend a lot of time at the hotel together, going for breakfast, dinners, whatever it might be," Lapierre said. "I have a really good relationship with him, so it's unreal to have him here and to be able to spend some time with him at this level."