Thirteen-year NHL veteran and three-time Stanley Cup champion defenseman Aaron Ward has retired from playing.
Ward, 37, underwent his third knee surgery after last season and would not have been ready to start the 2010-11 season.
"I'm very proud to have played for as long as I did in the NHL, with and against the best players in the game," Ward said in a statement. "This game has left me with countless memories and relationships, especially from those Stanley Cup winning teams in Carolina and Detroit. Thank you to my family, fans, friends and teammates for all of the great years."
Ward, 37, played in 839 career NHL games and recorded 44 goals, 107 assists and 151 points to go along with 736 penalty minutes. He spent the first five seasons of his career with the Detroit Red Wings (1996-2001), played in five seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes over two separate stints (2001-2006, 2009-10) and played in three seasons with the Boston Bruins (2006-2009), as well as played in one season for both the New York Rangers (2006-07) and the Anaheim Ducks (2009-10). Ward was also part of three Stanley Cup teams, winning two championships in Detroit (1997, 1998) and one in Carolina (2006).
The native of Windsor, ON was a first round draft pick – selected 5th overall – by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.
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