After 17 NHL seasons with the Florida Panthers, Calgary Flames, and St. Louis Blues, defenceman Jay Bouwmeester is officially hanging up the skates.
Bouwmeester’s illustrious career saw him hoist the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2018-19, and enjoy much success on the international stage. With Team Canada, Bouwmeester twice won World Championship and World Cup golds, and was part of Canada’s Olympic squad that won gold at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games. His international and NHL success has him among the game’s elite — and the latest player to join the Triple Gold Club (winner of Olympic gold, World Championship gold, and a Stanley Cup). He’s one of 30 players to get those honours.
Bouwmeester, 37, saw his 2019-20 season, and his career, come to an abrupt and scary halt during a game on Feb. 11 when he experienced a cardiac episode while on the bench. He was revived by medical personnel using a defibrillator and was taken to hospital for treatment. An operation to restore his heart’s normal rhythm, known as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) procedure, was done three days later. The Blues placed him on long-term injured reserve shortly after and, back in good health, he became a free agent at the conclusion of the season.
The Edmonton native was selected third overall by the Florida Panthers in 2002. He concludes his playing career having registered 88 goals, 336 assists, and 424 points.
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