"As a kid growing up in Mississauga, Ontario, it was my dream to one day play in the NHL. To have had this dream come true,and have been able to play the sport that I love so much for so many years, is something I feel extremely fortunate and grateful for. The memories that I have made will truly last a lifetime.
Thank you to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Calgary Flames organizations for giving me the opportunity to play and compete in the best league in the world. I wore both jerseys with great pride, and I will be forever grateful for the experiences that came along with that. Also, thank you EHC Red Bull Munich - it was a great experience to play overseas for such a great organization.
Thank you to every coach, assistant coach, manager, trainer, to my agents at Newport sports, and all of the support staff that I have met and worked with over the years. You all do so much to support what we do as players, on and off the ice, and it never went unnoticed. Thank you for believing in me, giving me a chance, and helping me grow along the way.
To every teammate I have had the pleasure of playing with, the friendships I have made are ones that will last forever. There is nothing I will miss more, than the times spent with you on and off the ice.
To the fans, thank you for making this experience that much more exciting.
Thank you to all of my extended family and friends for always supporting me throughout my career. I always appreciated and felt so much support from you.
To my parents, Nada and Mike, and sister Michelle, thank you for giving me every opportunity to help make my dreams become a reality. You encouraged and guided me to always work hard and believe in myself. Without your support, love and guidance, this hockey career that I have had, simply would not have been.
And finally, thank you to my wife Katie, and our sons, Elliot and Dylan. Katie, you have been my person throughout this entire journey and have been there for me in every possible way. I am so grateful for all the sacrifices, love, and unwavering support you provided throughout my career and beyond. Thank you for everything that you do for our family.
Elliot and Dylan, to be able to share this hockey journey with you is something I will cherish forever. I'm so excited for this next chapter together with our family. I am filled with feelings of gratitude and joy as I close this chapter of my professional playing career. I have so much to be proud of and grateful for, and will forever cherish all the memories I have made over the years.
Thank you everyone for making this incredible journey as a professional athlete one that I will never forget."