Former Arizona Coyotes forward Shane Doan is done playing professional hockey.
Doan, 40, who was told on June 17 that the Coyotes were not interested in bringing him back for a 22nd season, announced his decision in a letter to the fans published Wednesday in the Arizona Republic.
"I could not fathom at the time that I would end up playing in Arizona for the next 21 years, raise a family and call this place home," Doan wrote. "But that's exactly what happened. And that's why this has been one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. I'm retiring from the NHL."
"I’ve been blessed and I’m so grateful for the fans and their support. They stuck by me throughout my career and the ups and downs of the Coyotes. There are a lot of players with more skill than me and a lot more ability than me that didn’t ever get the type of appreciation that I got and the type of respect that the fans gave me, and I’m so grateful for that. I can’t express how much I appreciate it. Thank you for watching me grow up, and I enjoyed watching a lot of you grow up, too.
"I also want say thanks to the Coyotes, who provided me the opportunity to stay in the Valley for 21 years. That’s one of the most meaningful accomplishments of my career, and I’ll forever cherish the friendships I’ve made along the way."
A complete text of the letter can be found here.
Doan's impact not only in Arizona but the hockey community as a whole was reflected in the social media response to his announcement.
http://twitter.com/max_domi/status/902962339892273152
https://twitter.com/Jeremy_Roenick/status/902885578605133825
http://twitter.com/Martyman17/status/902957323462688768
https://twitter.com/NHLPA/status/902930022465462273
https://twitter.com/mattycoyotestv/status/902928360199688192
https://twitter.com/Panger40/status/902874368375746560
https://twitter.com/TheHockeyNews/status/902886837122949120
https://twitter.com/_HMI_/status/902873602688778240
