Live On Twitter



NEWS BY DIVISION

Like Our Facebook Page

Podcasts

COLUMNS

Ducks' Niedermayer announces retirement Print
Headlines
Written by J.P. Hoornstra   
Tuesday, June 22, 2010 14:52
Scott Niedermayer, whose Hall of Fame career includes two Olympic gold medals and four Stanley Cups, announced his retirement on Tuesday.

The Anaheim Ducks captain played 1,263 games for New Jersey and Anaheim, scoring 172 goals and 740 points. He is the only player in hockey history to have won a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold medal, World Championship, World Cup, Memorial Cup and World Junior title.

An emotional Niedermayer said at a press conference that he is "100 percent comitted to this decision" after hedging on retirement each of the last three seasons.

"I don't want to wait any longer to make the decision to take the next step into my life," said Niedermayer, who will stay on in a consultant's role to Ducks general manager Bob Murray.

Niedermayer had to pause as he thanked his family for their support, but was otherwise straight-faced as he explained his decision to the media.

"It's been more than a dream," he said. "You wouldn't have believed if someone said, this is what your career's going to be."

Reflective of the humility that made him a captain in Anaheim, and on Canada's gold-medal winning Olympic team in Vancouver, Niedermayer thanked everyone from the 1991-92 Devils defensemen to the Ducks' massage therapist.

"This man has no ego," said Murray, who called Niedermayer "irreplaceable."

Niedermayer's retirement leaves the Ducks with a large vacancy in their leadership and on their blue line. It also adds to the speculation that veteran forward Teemu Selanne will follow Niedermayer into retirement. Niedermayer said Tuesday that he had not spoken to Selanne about Selanne's decision.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/hide comments

Write comment

smaller | bigger
security image
Write the displayed characters

busy
Last Updated on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 17:34