Bruins Captain Patrice Bergeron Retires

Photo via NHL.com

Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron announced his retirement on Tuesday, a day after his 38th birthday.

“It is with a full heart and a lot of gratitude that today I am announcing my retirement as a professional hockey player,” Bergeron said in a statement on NHL.com

After considering retirement last year, Bergeron decided to return on a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Bruins, helping them to the best regular-season record in NHL history. Bergeron suffered a herniated disk at the end of the regular season which left him sitting out of the first four games against the Florida Panthers.

Photo via NHL.com

Bergeron was drafted in the second round (No. 45) of the 2003 NHL draft by the Boston Bruins and played with the team for 19 seasons. He played a total of 1,294 regular-season games and has 1,040 career points. Among being one of the top two-way centers in the NHL, Bergeron is a member of the Triple Gold Club, winning a Stanley Cup (2011) and gold medals at the Olympics (2014, 2010) and World Junior Championship (2005). He is also a three-time All-Star and six-time winner of the Frank J. Selke trophy, awarded to a forward who demonstrates premier skill in the defensive component of the game.

In his statement, he concluded:

“As I step away today, I have no regrets. I have only gratitude that I lived my dream, and excitement for what is next for my family and me. I left everything out there and I'm humbled and honored it was representing this incredible city and for the Boston Bruins fans.”

Photo via Getty Images