Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller on Wednesday announced his retirement from hockey, saying “it’s time to hang up my skates.” 

The 33-year-old, who took a hard way back to the NHL last season, in a post wrote, “Although my spirit for the game is there, unfortunately my body isn’t… My overall health and my family are now the priority. This was not an easy decision to make but it’s time to hang up my skates.”

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“It’s hard to put into words what it means to wear the spoked B, it was an honor to put that jersey on each night,” he wrote. 

Kevan Miller joined the Bruins organisation in 2011 and it is the only professional organisation he ever played for. He has played 154 AHL games with Providence Bruins and 352 games with the Boston Bruins. The California native has also played 33 NHL playoff games and 20 AHL playoff games. 

His retirement announcement comes when he was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 28.

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Kevan Miller had missed the entire 2019-20 NHL season after he suffered a fractured kneecap during the previous season. He had undergone four surgeries on his leg. He returned to the 2021 season and played 28 games and was nominated for the Masterton Trophy. However, he suffered a concussion during playoffs against Washington after which he did not return to the ice. 

“I’ve had the opportunity to play with some of the best players in the world, it’s been an honor and something I’ll forever cherish,” Miller wrote.

“That aside I think I’ve taken for granted how lucky I am to come across a group of guys, from college to pro, that have been like brothers to me. I will miss the small things. The pregame rituals, the group chats, post-practice shenanigans, thank you to all of my teammates past and present.”