5 July (Reuters) – Patrick Hornqvist, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and world champion with Sweden, announced Wednesday that he is retiring from ice hockey.
The 36-year-old forward, who suffered multiple concussions during the 2022-23 National Hockey League (NHL) season and was limited to 22 games, told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that his injury history made him a decision. He said it was the main reason.
“Hockey has been a big part of my life since I was a kid, so of course it’s a tough decision, but I have a history of injuries and I don’t want to risk anything in the future. , I’m done playing,” Hornqvist told Aftonblade.
The Sollentuna, Sweden native scored 543 points in 901 NHL games during his career with the Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers. His 264 NHL goals are his 10th-most all-time score for a Swedish-born player.
In 2017, Hornqvist scored the Stanley Cup winning goal for Pittsburgh late in the final period of Game 6 against the former Predators team. Hornqvist also won the Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh in 2016.
Hornqvist, who was selected by Nashville with the 230th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft, last played after suffering a second concussion in a month while he was with the Panthers in early December.
Hornqvist suffered a concussion, which kept the Panthers out of the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
On the international stage, Hornqvist has represented Sweden on numerous occasions, scoring two goals in five games at the 2018 World Championships and winning the gold medal against Switzerland in the final.
Hornqvist admitted he misses being in the locker room with his teammates, but feels better and excited about what’s next.
“It’s going to be a big adjustment, but I feel good now. I’m looking forward to the rest of my life,” Hornqvist said.
Reported by Toronto-based Frank Pingu. Additional reporting by Tommy Lund of Gdansk.Editing: Chris Reese
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