Five-time NHL All-Star and Olympic gold medalist Owen Nolan has retired from ice hockey, ending an impressive career stretching back to 1988.
Nolan, 39, ceremonially joined the San Jose Sharks for his announcement, in order to retire as a member of the team where he spent eight of his most successful seasons. He had been playing out his career in Zurich, Switzerland.
“I was very fortunate to play 18 seasons, 1,200 games in the league, and today I'm announcing my retirement," Nolan said in comments shown on the NHL website late Tuesday.
"I guess I've known this day was here for a while. When your body won't do what your mind and your heart is willing to do, it's time to move on. I've enjoyed every minute of it. I've had the opportunity to play with some great players and great teammates."
The Belfast-born power forward started playing senior hockey aged 16 in Canada in 1988 before being drafted to the NHL by the Quebec Nordiques.
Nolan’s greatest achievements came at the San Jose Sharks, which he joined in 1995. As Sharks, captain he finished the 1999-2000 season as the NHL’s joint second top scorer with 44 goals.
Nolan was also a member of the Canada team that won gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
"It's just an absolute honor to play for Team Canada, and then to have the success of winning, words can't describe it," Nolan said.
The 39-year-old played his last NHL game for the Minnesota Wild in 2010, before spending time in the Swiss league and trying out unsuccessfully for the Vancouver Canucks at the start of the current season.
Nolan said he would eventually like to return to the sport in some capacity, but will now spend some time away from the game to “gear down from the competitiveness.”
