Former National Hockey League veteran retires from the game

There comes a time in a hockey player's life when they realize that there is more to life than just the game. Although it can be a difficult thing to process, accepting that and moving on to the next phase of their life is an integral part of their growth. This became a reality recently for former National Hockey League veteran Sven Baertschi, who has announced his retirement from the game at 30.

Baertschi amassed 66 goals to go along with 72, assists in 292 NHL games with the Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks and as recently as the 2021-2022 season where he skated in one game with the Vegas Golden Knights, signed a three-year contract with SC Bern which was valid until 2026.


For a player to hang up their skates in the middle of a contract is not unheard of, but certainly unusual and although speculation can occur, the hope is that Baertschi is leaving the game on his terms and that he is content with what he gave to the game in North America and internationally.


Fans can never understand the full impact of leaving a game that one has invested so much time in and, many times, for most of an individual's life. Hopefully, the transition for Baertschi and his family is seamless, and he gets to enjoy the rest of his life away from the game.