Philadelphia Flyers' Ian Laperriere makes retirement official -NHL Update
Philadelphia Flyers’ right winger, Ian Laperriere, made an official announcement on Tuesday, June 12, 2012, that his career has come to an end and that he wishes to end it right here and now.
Due to some unfortunate situations, the 38-year-old had been unable to play for the past two seasons after being signed by Philadelphia Flyers to a three-year, $3.5 million contract, which would have made him an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.
Laperriere made the announcement through a media conference call, which was certainly heartbreaking to hear.
Getting to spend just one year with an organisation like Philadelphia was his biggest regret but his health is just not allowing him to carry on with playing an intense game like hockey.
“It was my shortest time here compared to the other teams I played for, but that’s probably one of my regrets, not having a chance to play longer than that in this great organization,’’ he said.
The physical forward has always been renowned for his risky tactics in order to help his team in whichever way possible. He even took a puck to the face, not once but twice, and never gave up, but there has now come a point in his career where doing so could
be fatal.
“More and more as the time went by I kind of knew nothing was going to change. To come back to play hockey the way I want to play was out of the question. It’s a faster sport, a tough sport out there. For me to come back the way I am today wouldn’t be fair
for my family and wouldn’t be fair for the Flyers, either. I’m feeling pretty good but I’m not 100 percent, especially at 38, 100 percent to come back and play the way I want to play,” Laperriere added.
Ian Laperriere was picked up as the 158th overall player during round-seven of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft by St. Louis Blues. He has played with various teams including the Blues, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche and Philadelphia
Flyers throughout his 16 season-long career.
With 1,083 games played and 336 points (121 goals, 215 assists) potted, the NHL is losing one of its greatest ever for sure.
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