sports
Bellemare announces retirement from hockey at age 41
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare said he is retiring after a career that reached the NHL at age 29 and included an Olympic debut weeks before turning 41. He spent a decade in the NHL and returned to Europe for the past two seasons.
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Pierre-Edouard Bellemare announced his retirement from hockey on Thursday in three social media posts. The 41-year-old forward ended a career that reached the NHL at age 29 and featured an Olympic debut weeks before his 41st birthday. Bellemare said he nearly retired two years earlier when he left the NHL, citing a desire for family stability.
He continued playing after being selected for France's Olympic team and served as the team's captain during the February tournament.
NHL career Bellemare played 10 seasons in the NHL from 2014 to 2024 with the Philadelphia Flyers, Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning and Seattle Kraken. He reached the Stanley Cup Final twice, in 2018 with the Golden Knights and in 2021 with the Lightning. He returned to Europe after the 2024 season and played the past two years in Switzerland.
Olympic experience Bellemare described his Olympic appearance as a celebration for his family. He scored a goal during the tournament and said the experience was shared with his sisters, wife and children. "The journey of my career and everything, this has been absolutely amazing," Bellemare told The Associated Press in Milan four months ago.
