Jay Bouwmeester Announces Retirement After Cardiac Episode On Team Bench
Jay Bouwmeester was selected 3rd overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He is in elite company as a member of the trip gold club as he has won an Olympic Gold Medal, Stanley Cup and a World Championship. He has officially announced his retirement from the NHL.
Bouwmeester is arguably the greatest skater of all time. Even at the age of 36, he was quick and floated effortlessly across the ice. On February 11th, 2020, Bouwmeester went into cardiac arrest on the St. Louis Blues bench during an away game in Anaheim. The highly skilled medical staff on the Ducks and Blues bench were able to save his life with the use of a defibrillator. He would be out for the remainder of the season (just before the Covid-19 pause), but we now know it was the end of a hall of fame career.
He is at peace with the conclusion of his 17 year career. During an interview with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, Bouwmeester stated that he knew his career was over when it happened. It is obviously not an ideal send off for such a marvelous career, but he will surely be enshrined in the Hockey Hall Of Fame.
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