Former Calgary Hitmen forward and longtime Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf will retire from the NHL at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season.
The product of Regina, Sask. is Anaheim’s all-time leading scorer in both the regular season and playoffs, and joins a group of 11 other players in NHL history to have captained the same team for 10 years and scored 1,000 points.
He is also one of 13 players in hockey history to win two Olympic gold medals and a Stanley Cup championship, and one of 46 NHL players to record 1,000 points with a single franchise.
Above : Ryan Getzlaf in 2008 with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen - Photo Credit : www.whl.ca
Getzlaf and the Ducks made the announcement Tuesday, April 5th, 2022.
The 36-year-old was named a Top 50 WHL Player of All-Time as part of the League’s 50th season celebrations in 2015-16.
Before embarking on his lengthy NHL career, Getzlaf appeared in 233 career WHL games with the Calgary Hitmen from 2001-05, registering 215 points (95G-120A).
The Hitmen inducted Getzlaf as the inaugural member of the “Forever A Hitmen” program with a permanent banner in the rafters at Scotiabank Saddledome in January of 2015.
Getzlaf has appeared in an Anaheim franchise-record 1,150 NHL games, recording 1,103 points (282G-731A).
He led the Ducks to the 2007 Stanley Cup, pacing the Anaheim offence with 17 points during their post-season run.
Getzlaf was originally selected by the Calgary Hitmen in the third round of the 2000 WHL Draft, making his WHL debut September 21, 2001 versus the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
He was named to the Eastern Conference First All-Star Team in 2004 and the Eastern Conference Second All-Star Team in 2005.
Getzlaf was originally selected by the Anaheim Ducks with the 19th overall pick in the 2003 NHL Draft.
Internationally, Getzlaf represented Team Canada at nine international tournaments over a 14-year span (2002-16), helping his country to five gold medals including the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Winter Games, 2016 World Cup of Hockey, 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship and 2003 IIHF U-18 World Championship.
He also earned silver medals at the 2008 IIHF World Championship and 2004 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Getzlaf’s final regular season home game in Anaheim is slated for Sunday, April 24 when the Ducks play host to the St. Louis Blues.
