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NHL Legend Mike Fisher Retires With Heartfelt Letter

(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

David Hookstead Sports And Entertainment Editor
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Nashville Predators forward Mike Fisher announced in retirement with a heartfelt letter Thursday morning.

The Canadian-born hockey star wrote a piece for The Tennessean, where he laid out his reasons for hanging up his skates. It’ll pull at the emotions of hockey fans everywhere.

He wrote in part:

This is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make, but I know I’ve made the right one. I’ve decided to retire from the NHL.

I kept praying for peace about the next step in my life. A peace that said this is God’s will for your future. A peace that said whether or not this was the right time to walk away.

I don’t believe it came in a single instance or some aha moment, but as time passed, I gradually became certain that it was right for me to retire. I believe God gave me the ability to play hockey, and I was helped by dozens of individuals along the way, so it’s not just up to me on when it’s time to say goodbye.

Knowing we were so close to winning it all in June only makes it more difficult to leave it behind, but I do so with hope. Endings are always tough, but I believe when something ends, there are new beginnings, new opportunities and new things to be excited for, too.

Fisher’s career represented everything people love about hockey. He was a gritty guy that always put the team first, he rocked one hell of a playoff beard, he left it out on the ice, he led by example, he would throw punches when it had to be done and he never took shifts off.

It’s been a joy watching Fisher’s career these past few years, and naturally, it doesn’t hurt he’s married to Carrie Underwood.

The NHL lost one of the good guys today. That’s never a fun or easy pill to swallow. Hopefully he enjoys retirement, and still finds a way to be involved in hockey. It’s been a great ride throughout his career.

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