Stanley Cup champion officially retires after 11 year career

In case you missed the news earlier today, NHL defenseman Ben Lovejoy has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey after an 11 year NHL career.

The 35 year old won a Stanley Cup in 2016 with the Pittsburgh Penguins and split last season between the New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars. Lovejoy also played three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks in between stints with the Penguins.

In total, Lovejoy put up 20 goals and 101 points in 544 career NHL games.

"I'm very done," Lovejoy said. "I'm very proud of my career, very honored to have played for so long. It couldn't have gone any better. It was a childhood dream come true. But it was hard. … I wasn't good enough to just lace up the skates and go play. I had to make it a lifestyle, and I feel like about a million-pound weight is off my shoulders right now. I'm really, really excited to be done."