Another star player for the Toronto Maple Leafs has made an unexpected declaration regarding his retirement.
After 19 NHL seasons, forward Jason Spezza of the Toronto Maple Leafs announced his retirement on Sunday.
In a statement that ESPN was able to obtain, Spezza, 38, said, “Hockey has been my life’s work and to be able to come home to Toronto and bookend my playing career where it started was incredible.”
Throughout his nearly two-decade NHL career, Spezza played for three different teams. He expressed gratitude to the fans for their support.
“The fans’ influence on the game is immeasurable, whether they are in Ottawa, Dallas, Toronto, or anywhere else in the league. That moment of skating onto the ice to the thunderous applause of the audience is something I will never forget, but I can never quite recreate it. I’m grateful,” Spezza said.
The official Instagram account of the Maple Leafs verified that Spezza will be joining the front office of the Toronto team “effective immediately.” He will serve as the team’s special assistant to general manager Kyle Dubas, according to ESPN.
