Report: Veteran forward officially announces his retirement after 16 seasons.

One of the National Hockey League's veterans has officially called it quits.

According to a report in the Alaska Dispatch News, forward Scott Gomez has made the decision that he will not look to compete for a job the way he has for the past few seasons, and instead will hang up his skates.

From the Alaska Dispatch News:

He's come full circle. This is where the most illustrious hockey career in Alaska started, and this is where it ends.

Scott Gomez is done, retired at 36.

After 16 NHL seasons, and 17 as a pro, it's time. He doesn't want to cast about for the next one-year contract or chase a nightly seven minutes of ice time.

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It doesn't sound like this was an easy decision for Gomez, but it sounds like the difficult last few seasons of his career have convinced him to walk away.

"This has been my life,'' Gomez said. "It's so weird to think I'm never going to play hockey again.

"People say, 'You'll find something.' But saying that, there will never be that feeling again, of even playing a preseason NHL game. You're playing at the highest level there is.

"But I'm done. I'm done.''

Gomez leaves behind an incredible National Hockey League career, one that spanned 1079 games and saw him record 181 goals and 575 assists over his time with the Devils, Rangers, Canadiens, Sharks, Panthers, Blues and Senators. He will most likely be best remembered for his two Stanley Cup Championships as a member of the Devils.