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Injury Forces Rangers Goalie Richter to Retire From NHL
Goaltender Mike Richter, who backstopped the New York Rangers to their first Stanley Cup championship in 54 years but has been unable to recover from post-concussion syndrome, announced his retirement Thursday.
Richter, 36, missed all but 13 games last season following a seemingly minor concussion and decided to end his 14-year career after he was not given clearance to return for the 2003-04 season.
"I feel a great deal of sadness," said Richter as he choked back tears at a Thursday afternoon news conference. "I have to give up something I truly love."
After battling groin and knee injuries earlier in his career, Richter was struck on the side of the head by a slap shot by Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Chris Tamer in the first period of a game March 22, 2002.
The injury was diagnosed as a fractured temporal bone and Richter missed the final nine games of the 2001-02 season. Less than eight months later, on Nov. 5, he took an accidental knee to the forehead from Edmonton Oilers center Todd Marchant and sustained a minor concussion.
Richter never returned and only recently received clearance to resume exercising and playing golf, but not to play hockey.
"Due to my injury last Nov. 5, the doctors have informed me I am no longer to continue my career as a professional athlete," Richter said. "The risks are simply too great."
The Rangers' all-time leader in wins (301) and games (666) by a goalie, Richter enjoyed his finest season in 1993-94, when he went 42-12-6 with a career-best five shutouts and a 2.57 goals-against average. He helped New York end its storied title drought by going 16-7 with four shutouts and a 2.07 GAA in 23 playoff games.
Richter also holds single-season team records for wins, games and save percentage and played in three All-Star Games.
Rangers general manager Glen Sather announced Thursday the team will retire Richter's No. 35 at a Feb. 4 game against Minnesota.
A Pennsylvania native, Richter also played at the Olympics in 1988, 1998 and 2002 and almost single-handedly led the United States to the championship at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, where he was named most valuable player.
Richter was one of the best goalies in NHL history in 1-on-1 situations, stopping 10 of 11 regular-season penalty shots. He also denied current Ranger Pavel Bure on a penalty shot in Game 4 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals at Vancouver.
In a career spent entirely with the Rangers, Richter posted a 301-258-63 record with 24 shutouts and a 2.89 GAA.
Source: sportsticker
Richter, 36, missed all but 13 games last season following a seemingly minor concussion and decided to end his 14-year career after he was not given clearance to return for the 2003-04 season.
"I feel a great deal of sadness," said Richter as he choked back tears at a Thursday afternoon news conference. "I have to give up something I truly love."
After battling groin and knee injuries earlier in his career, Richter was struck on the side of the head by a slap shot by Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Chris Tamer in the first period of a game March 22, 2002.
The injury was diagnosed as a fractured temporal bone and Richter missed the final nine games of the 2001-02 season. Less than eight months later, on Nov. 5, he took an accidental knee to the forehead from Edmonton Oilers center Todd Marchant and sustained a minor concussion.
Richter never returned and only recently received clearance to resume exercising and playing golf, but not to play hockey.
"Due to my injury last Nov. 5, the doctors have informed me I am no longer to continue my career as a professional athlete," Richter said. "The risks are simply too great."
The Rangers' all-time leader in wins (301) and games (666) by a goalie, Richter enjoyed his finest season in 1993-94, when he went 42-12-6 with a career-best five shutouts and a 2.57 goals-against average. He helped New York end its storied title drought by going 16-7 with four shutouts and a 2.07 GAA in 23 playoff games.
Richter also holds single-season team records for wins, games and save percentage and played in three All-Star Games.
Rangers general manager Glen Sather announced Thursday the team will retire Richter's No. 35 at a Feb. 4 game against Minnesota.
A Pennsylvania native, Richter also played at the Olympics in 1988, 1998 and 2002 and almost single-handedly led the United States to the championship at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, where he was named most valuable player.
Richter was one of the best goalies in NHL history in 1-on-1 situations, stopping 10 of 11 regular-season penalty shots. He also denied current Ranger Pavel Bure on a penalty shot in Game 4 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals at Vancouver.
In a career spent entirely with the Rangers, Richter posted a 301-258-63 record with 24 shutouts and a 2.89 GAA.
Source: sportsticker