IT IS OFFICIAL - EX-REGINA PATS MIKE SILLINGER - HAS RETIRED

(Photo: Rookie Season, Regina Pats - Kevin Shaw Collection,

Professional Picture - St. Louis Blues)

Parts taken from Greg Harder. blog -

The veteran centre has been on the limp for nearly two years due to chronic hip problems which required three surgeries — two on the left, one on the right — and will likely force him to undergo a replacement procedure later in life. As a result, Sillinger felt the time was right to announce his retirement on Wednesday, realizing the wear and tear of 17 professional seasons had caught up to him and might affect his quality of life down the road.

"It's the most logical decision to make," offered the 38-year-old Regina native, who has a titanium ball and joint in his left hip. "If I continue playing, best-case scenario, I sneak through another year. Worst-case scenario, I'm having a hip replacement before I'm 40 years old. There's no way a 40-year-old should have a hip replacement. I've had a great career and I have to move forward. It's a sad day but it's the start of a new beginning for our whole family. Am I going to miss hockey? Of course. Am I happy with my decision? There was no decision. My decision was made easy for me, but I'm content with what I'm doing. I really feel solid that I gave it all I had for all those years."

Parts Taken from the TSN . ca

"Mike has and always will be a tremendous ambassador for this game," said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. "He is a born leader in everything he does and on behalf of the New York Islanders I wish him and his family the very best in the future."

**************************

Part taken from Rob Vanstone - Leader Post -

Sillinger, his wife Karla, and their three sons (Owen, 12, Lukas, 9, and Cole, 6) customarily spend the off-seasons in the Queen City. This summer, however, has been unlike any other — in that Sillinger is not preparing for the rigours of another hockey season.

**************************

New York Islanders forward Mike Sillinger is calling it a career. The Regina product played only seven games last year and had season-ending surgery in January. The 38-year-old played for a record 12 different NHL teams and wore 8 different jersey numbers: # 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, 21, 23, and 26. He was traded 10 times during his career, including twice in one day in July, 2003.

Detroit Red Wings: 1990-1995; Anaheim Mighty Ducks 1994-1996; Vancouver Canucks 1995-1998; Philadelphia Flyers: 1997-1999; Tampa Bay Lightning: 1998-2000; Flordia Panthers: 1999-2001; Ottawa Senators: 1999-2001: Columbus Blue Jackets: 2001-2003; Phoenix Coyotes: 2003-2004; St. Louis Blues: 2003-2006; Nashville Predators: 2005-2006; New York Islanders: 2006-2009

Note: Some years Mike played for two teams in the same season.

NHL TOTALS:

League ....	GP	G	A	Pts	Pim	Play-off ...	GP	G	A	Pts	Pim
Totals	1049	240	308	548	644	Totals	43	11	7	18	28

When he played with the Regina Pats in his Rookie Season (1987-1988), he finished 7th in Team Scoring. In the following three seasons he was the team's top scorer.

REGINA PAT TOTALS:

League ...	GP	G	A	Pts	Pim	Play-off ....	GP	G	A	Pts	Pim
1987-1988	67	18	25	43	17		4	0	0	0	0
1988-1989	72	53	78	131	52		-	-	-	-	-
1989-1990	70	57	72	129	41		11	12	10	22	2
1990-1991	57	50	66	116	42		8	6	9	15	4
Totals	266	178	241	419	152	Totals	23	18	19	37	6

REGINA PAT AWARDS:

Year Won	Type of Award	Name of Trophy
1988-89 & 1990-91	Most Valuable Player	Barkers Trophy
1988-89, 1989-1990, 1990-1991	Top Goal Scorer	Torchy Schell Memorial
1990-1991	Player of the Year	Booster Club Trophy
1990-1991	Most Popular Player	No Trophy
1988-1989	Top Vote Getter	Labbatt Trophy
1989-1990	Most Sportsmanlike	Hub Bishop Memorial

WHL - AWARDS:

Centre - Mike Sillinger was selected to the second All-Star Team and the First All-Star Team in 1991.

WORLD - AWARDS:

He captured a Gold Medal with Team Canada at the 1991 World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Was the Captain of Team Canada at the 2000 World Championship at Petersburg, Russia.