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Wilbraham's Guerin hangs up his skates

Date: 12/13/2010

Dec. 13, 2010

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

WILBRAHAM -- One of Wilbraham's favorite sons has decided it's time to spend more time with his son and daughters.

Bill Guerin, who was born in Worcester and grew up in Wilbraham, formally retired from the National Hockey League (NHL) on Dec. 7 at the age of 40 after 18 years in the league, ending one of the most successful hockey careers a U.S.-born player has ever had.

Guerin was acquired for the Pittsburgh Penguins' stretch run in 2009, which ended in a Stanley Cup championship and he finished out his contract there last season. After the Penguins decided not to re-sign him, he tried out with the Philadelphia Flyers during the preseason, but didn't sign and officially announced his retirement this month.

"I know I could [still play], put there are other circumstances that come into play, the most important of which is family," Guerin told Reminder Publications. "[Pittsburgh] decided to go in a different direction and it didn't work out in Philadelphia, so I decided I didn't want to live away from my family and I didn't want to move them again. It would be too much."

Guerin retired as a member of the Penguins and was honored at a ceremony at a contest between the New Jersey Devils and the Penguins, the first and last NHL teams he ever played for.

"[Pittsburgh] meant everything to me. The way they treated me as a player and a person and the way they treated my family was fantastic," Guerin said. "It's a great community, not only for an athlete, but for anyone who is looking for a good place to live."

Guerin asserted himself as one of the greatest American-born hockey players ever. Among Americans he is 13th all-time in points with 856, seventh in goals (429) and fourth in game-winning goals (77). He ranks 16th in playoff points by an American with 74, including 39 goals, which ranks ninth all-time among Americans.

Guerin attended Wilbraham & Monson Academy and played hockey for the Springfield Olympics ('Pics) under the late Gary Dineen.

From there, he went on play for two years at Boston College, where he was part of two Hockey East Conference regular season championship teams (1989-90, 1990-91) and one Hockey East tournament championship (1989-90). In his second season with the Eagles, he led the conference in goals with 22.

He was the fifth overall pick by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft and played his first NHL game during the 1991-92 season. Three seasons later, Guerin brought the Stanley Cup back to Wilbraham after the Devils swept the Detriot Red Wings in the finals.

"It's home. It always will be," Guerin, who now resides on Long Island, said of Wilbraham. "I've got a lot of friends back there and my mother is still back there, so Wilbraham will always be special to me."

Guerin would have to wait 14 years before winning another cup with the Penguins.

"The first time, I was 24. My wife and I were still dating. It was a great experience and everything I hoped it would be," Guerin said. "Then when you're on the last legs of your career and it's been 14 years since you've won it and you've added four children along the way, it takes appreciation to a whole new level. To be able to share that with my wife and my children and to see their faces made it that much better."

Along the way, Guerin, who was a Bruins fan growing up, found himself in Boston in a November, 2000, trade that sent him from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Anson Carter and two draft picks. He finished that season with 85 points -- 40 goals, 45 assists -- between Edmonton and Boston.

The following year, his 41 goals led the Bruins and had him tied for second in the league in the category as the Bruins won the Northeast Division and captured the Eastern Conference's top seed in the playoffs, only to be upset by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round.

After that season, Guerin left Boston, signing a five-year, $45 million contract with the Dallas Stars.

"It was great. It was a dream come true," Guerin said of being a Bruin. "I was nervous about playing in Boston because [playing there] had been hard on guys who are from there, but it was a great experience. I wish it could have worked out there because I never wanted to play anywhere else, but the Bruins decided to go in a different direction."

With his retirement only days old, Guerin said he has no immediate plans for his future.

He has made appearances on television in the past and is considering doing more work in that field in the future. He has also had discussions with Penguins General Manager about life after hockey.

But for now, he plans on spending some quality time with loved ones.

"I'm going to be a home with my family," Guerin said. "They've been without me for 18 years."



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