Simon Gagne has retired from hockey.
The 35-year-old former Flyers winger announced his retirement on Tuesday morning, although it was probably a foregone conclusion well before that. Gagne most recently played with the Boston Bruins, leaving the team in January 2015 after the death of his father.
Gagne, drafted by the Flyers in 1999, played his best hockey in Philadelphia, and we’ll all remember him for a lot of moments: his clinching goals in Game 7 of the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals against Boston and in Game 6 against the Lightning in the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals chief among them.
Here’s a statement from Gagne, via the Flyers:
“Today, I want to thank my trainers and teammates,” said Gagne in a press release making the announcement. “You inspired me to surpass myself. You made me understand that you need more than talent; it takes sacrifice and discipline and you need to work harder than your rivals. I also wish to thank my fans. Every evening, you energized me and inspired me to perform.”
Congrats to Gagne on a fantastic career.
