Malc
11-04-2008, 02:46 PM
By Doyle Potenteau
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=145233
It appears former Rocket goaltender Kelly Guard is calling it a career after suffering an injury while playing in Italy. Four years ago, Guard backstopped the Rockets to the 2004 Memorial Cup, winning MVP honours in the process for his 0.75 goals-against average.
On Monday, the Red Orange Val Pusteria Wolves announced that the “contract with goalkeeper Kelly Guard has been terminated in mutual agreement with immediate effect.” The announcement also said Guard wasn‘t motivated to continue his career, and that he suffered a muscle injury in a 5-4 victory over Cortina on Oct. 30. Cortina‘s roster includes ex-Rocket centre Kiel McLeod.
According to Rockets goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh, who spoke with Guard, the 25-year-old from Prince Albert, Sask., said on Monday “he had a slight tear in his groin, and that he was going to come back and rehab in Canada. He said he wasn't enjoying his time there, and that it wasn't the calibre of hockey he initially thought it would be.
“I guess he basically wasn't having fun, and once he got injured, that helped him make his decision (to retire).”
In the press release, Guard said “the city, the environment and the teammates were outstanding,” adding it was time “to end his career in professional hockey.”
After graduating from the WHL in 2004, and having just signed a free-agent contract with the Ottawa Senators before the Memorial Cup, Guard played one season with the ECHL‘s Charlotte Checkers, then 2005-07 with the AHL‘s Binghamton Senators.
Last season, he played for three different teams: the China Sharks of the Asian Hockey League; one month with the Vienna Capitals of the Austrian Erste Bank Liga; and Yunost Minsk of the Belarusian Extraliga. In eight games with Val Pusteria, he had a record of 1-7-0, a 3.30 GAA and a save percentage of .894.
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=145233
It appears former Rocket goaltender Kelly Guard is calling it a career after suffering an injury while playing in Italy. Four years ago, Guard backstopped the Rockets to the 2004 Memorial Cup, winning MVP honours in the process for his 0.75 goals-against average.
On Monday, the Red Orange Val Pusteria Wolves announced that the “contract with goalkeeper Kelly Guard has been terminated in mutual agreement with immediate effect.” The announcement also said Guard wasn‘t motivated to continue his career, and that he suffered a muscle injury in a 5-4 victory over Cortina on Oct. 30. Cortina‘s roster includes ex-Rocket centre Kiel McLeod.
According to Rockets goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh, who spoke with Guard, the 25-year-old from Prince Albert, Sask., said on Monday “he had a slight tear in his groin, and that he was going to come back and rehab in Canada. He said he wasn't enjoying his time there, and that it wasn't the calibre of hockey he initially thought it would be.
“I guess he basically wasn't having fun, and once he got injured, that helped him make his decision (to retire).”
In the press release, Guard said “the city, the environment and the teammates were outstanding,” adding it was time “to end his career in professional hockey.”
After graduating from the WHL in 2004, and having just signed a free-agent contract with the Ottawa Senators before the Memorial Cup, Guard played one season with the ECHL‘s Charlotte Checkers, then 2005-07 with the AHL‘s Binghamton Senators.
Last season, he played for three different teams: the China Sharks of the Asian Hockey League; one month with the Vienna Capitals of the Austrian Erste Bank Liga; and Yunost Minsk of the Belarusian Extraliga. In eight games with Val Pusteria, he had a record of 1-7-0, a 3.30 GAA and a save percentage of .894.