Ronning's retirement really makes me feel old.

it seems like just yesterday he was a rookie when the cavaleni brothers were playing practical jokes on him in the locker room.

Ronning ends 18-year NHL career

February 15, 2006

TORONTO (AP) -- NHL veteran Cliff Ronning retired Wednesday, ending an 18-year career in which he played for seven teams and was one of the league's smallest players.

The 40-year-old Ronning last played for the New York Islanders in 2003-04 and went unsigned after the 2004-05 season was wiped out by a labor dispute. He also played for St. Louis, Vancouver, Phoenix, Nashville, Los Angeles and Minnesota.


Ronning, 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds, said in a statement released through the players' union that he hoped youngsters might draw inspiration from his career.

"I certainly hope that kids who are also small in stature but not in heart will look at me and other similar players and know that their dream can come true through hard work and dedication to the game," he said.

Ronning appeared in 1,137 NHL games and had 306 goals and 563 assists.