New York. One of the Swedish NHL’s finest careers is over.
After fifteen seasons in the best league in the world, Patrick Hornqvist has retired.
Hockey has been a big part of my life since I was a kid, so of course it’s hard to take, but I have an injury history and I don’t want to risk anything in the future. So, I’m done playing it, the 36-year-old tells Sportbladet from Stockholm.
On October 10, 2008, Patrick Hornqvist made his NHL debut, with the Nashville Predators away from the St. Louis Cardinals. Louis.
Since then, he’s played 900 more regular season games (plus 109 playoff games), scored 543 points and won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
But now the glorious career is over. “Pengan”, as he is known, missed the second half of this year’s season with the Florida Panthers due to a double concussion, and health is also the basis of his decision to quit.
– It’s the most important. I feel good now, I hope I have good years ahead of me, and with my history of injuries, I don’t want to risk my future years, he says.
“I look forward to the rest of my life.”
However, leaving hockey after so many years is a bit difficult.
“I’ve been in this bubble since I started playing as a kid. Hockey has been a big part of my life, so of course it was a tough decision to make,” continues the 36-year-old from Sollentuna.
– It’s going to be a huge adjustment, but it feels great now, and I’m looking forward to the rest of my life.
“Bengan” has also seen practically everything a hockey player could wish for and retired without ever holding back anything.
– When I look back, it’s cool to think that I have, for example, two Stanley Cup rings on my account, a gold medal in the World Cup, and that I actually participated and contributed to those victories. I wouldn’t have dreamed of it, he says.
They moved home to Sweden
– But what I am most grateful and happy about are all the wonderful people I got to know. Players, coaches, material managers….you name it. The hockey world is really full of outstanding people, so if there’s one thing I’ll really miss, it’s the camaraderie in the locker room.
However, chances are very good we’ll see the Swedish fighter out there in the future as well. Panthers general manager Bill Zito expressed his desire to see motivation and inspiration for Hornqvist in his role running the club.
– These are, of course, warm words and I really want to continue working with hockey. Partly to give back to the sport and partly to keep this circus going. There is nothing better, Bengan explains.
– We’ll see what kind of role it’s going to be, but initially I’ll be based in Stockholm, we’re back home in Sweden now. Then we wait and see how you feel in a few years.