Health Issue Forces former NHLer to Retire from Hockey
Published August 1, 2023 at 5:13 PM
BY TJ TUCKER
BY TJ TUCKER
Lepisto himself said the issue isn't a big one, but there would have been a risk every time he got on the ice.
"After further examination, playing was no longer recommended. The risk is small, but it still exists. The enthusiasm was strong and I would have liked to be part of this gang, but of course health always comes first." - Sami Lepisto
The NHL
PUBLICITÉS
Lepisto was drafted 66th overall by the Washington Capitals in 2004. He waited three seasons to come to North America. After a couple of years with the Caps, he was traded to Phoenix for a second-round pick in 2010. In 2011, he was traded once again, this time to the Columbus Blue Jackets. At the end of that season, he signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks, and that would be the last team he played for in the NHL. In total, he managed 166 regular season NHL games.
Russia
In 2012, Lepisto signed a deal in the KHL, and ended up playing there for nine seasons with various teams. After Jokerit, the team Lepisto was playing for at the time, withdrew from the KHL, he played a season in the Swedish Hockey League, and then the Swiss National League before signing the contract with HIFK earlier this summer.
""Looking back on that time now, it feels like it went really fast. I got to play in top leagues, meet new people and experience great things about the sport. But at some point it always comes to an end."
"It's time to take a breather and spend time with my family."
"It's time to take a breather and spend time with my family."
While his NHL career likely didn't turn out the way he had hoped, Lepisto was a force for his home country of Finland in international tournaments. He helped Finland win two bronze medals at the Olympics, a gold and a bronze at the World Championships, and bronze at the World Juniors in 2004. That same year, Lepisto was named the Best Defenceman at the WJC.
Source: BladeOfSteel.com
ADS
RELATED ARTICLES
ADS
