February 4 2011 Last updated at 07:08 PM ET
CALGARY -- Craig Conroy begins a new phase in his hockey career, leaving the ice with no regrets and not just a little anticipation.
As was expected, Conroy announced his retirement from the National Hockey League on Friday afternoon after 17 seasons and his appointment as special assistant to Calgary Flames acting general manager Jay Feaster.
"I consider myself lucky that my career brought me and my family to the city of Calgary and the Flames organization,'' commented Conroy. "I leave the ice content and prepared for the next stage of my career in the game.
"You always want to play, be a player. But after taking time to sit down with (team president) Ken (King) and Jay and look at everything ... I've seen a lot of guys retire when they're 30, 31 and they're emotional. I think I've come to grips with it. I'm good with it. It's time to turn the chapter and move forward with my life.''
The 39-year-old concludes his NHL career having played 1,009 games, 507 of them as a Flame. He also played in Montreal (the team that drafted him), St. Louis and Los Angeles. During that time, the personable Conroy amassed 542 points, including 182 goals, and added 30 points in 81 playoff appearances.
"I had a great career,'' Conroy noted. "I got to play for some great organizations, starting in Montreal. That was my dream.''
In his new role, Conroy will serve as a liaison between the players and head coach Brent Sutter and Feaster. Those duties include preparing performance reports on players and making recommendations for their improvement, as well as scouting specific players being considered for acquisition.
"As he begins the next stage of his hockey career, Craig will be a valuable member of our hockey management team,'' explained Feaster, "bringing the same passion and enthusiasm that he displayed every game as a player.''
The Potsdam, N.Y. native -- who will continue to call Calgary home along with his wife and three children -- will also make monthly excursions to the farm team in Abbotsford and report back on the progress of those prospects. In short, he will be a key contributor on the Flames' development side of things, keeping track of draftees and their on-ice growth.
"This is not a make-work project,'' insisted Feaster. "This job has substance. Craig made it very clear to me that was important to him. There's a lesson I learned over the years from Philadelphia. Mr. Snider does such a tremendous job keeping those special players in the organization. It's important. And Craig is a special player to this organization.''
Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/04/craig-conroy-retires-after-17-years-moves-into-calgarys-front/
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