Breaking: Former Stanley Cup Champion retires after over 850 NHL games.

After attempting to hold on to his career in the minor leagues veteran forward Ruslan Fedetenko has officially decided to hang up his skates.

He has released an official statement via the National Hockey League Players Association:

"As I reflect on my career, I realize how truly fortunate I have been to play the game I love at the highest level, to have won the Stanley Cup, not once, but twice, and to have made countless lifelong friendships along the way. I am retiring as a truly grateful man. I will be forever thankful to the Philadelphia Flyers for giving me my start in professional hockey, their belief in me gave me the confidence to reach a level I had only dreamt of.  I also had the absolute honor and privilege to play for four other exceptional organizations; I am grateful for the time I spent with each, and for the remarkable teammates I had the pleasure to play alongside. Heartfelt appreciation goes out to Bill Barber, John Tortorella, and Craig Ramsey, men whose coaching skills shaped the player I became and to whom I feel a great sense of gratitude. I would also like to thank my agents, Allan Walsh and David Schatia, for their guidance and encouragement throughout my career, and to the fans, whose undying support has meant so much. Finally, the greatest words of gratitude go out to my wife, my children, and my parents, for without their love and sacrifice my career would have been impossible. Though I will miss playing the sport I love, I look forward to spending more time with my family as I approach the next phase of my life."

Fedetenko is another incredible underdog story, going from an undrafted signing of the Philadelphia Flyers and reaching the pinnacle of hockey, the Stanley Cup Championship as a member of both the Tampa Bay Lightning as well as the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

His career would span 863 NHL games, where he recorded 173 goals and 193 assists for a total of 366 points over that stretch. While he debuted as a Flyer there's little doubt that he will be best remembered as a member of the championship teams in Pittsburgh and Tampa respectively. Especially for his Game 7 Finals performance as a member of the Lightning.

We wish him all the best on his future endeavors.

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