Now That He Has Cup, Bourque Will Retire

Ray Bourque, his quest for the Stanley Cup realized, will retire today at a scheduled news conference.

A source close to Bourque told the Associated Press on Monday that the Colorado Avalanche defenseman will announce his retirement after 22 NHL seasons.

The Avalanche said only that Bourque will make an announcement about his hockey career. While the team would not reveal what Bourque, 40, planned to announce, the Denver Post said Bourque will retire, primarily for family reasons.

The highest-scoring defenseman in NHL history said previously he wants to spend more time with his family after more than two decades in the NHL. Bourque had a 22-year wait before winning the championship, the longest in NHL history.

Bourque’s Boston-based agent, Steve Freyer, said Bourque had made a decision about his future, but Freyer wouldn’t reveal what it was.

Bourque played for 21 seasons in Boston, but he requested a trade to a contender in March 2000 in hopes of winning an NHL title.

Bourque finally got his championship when the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils for the Stanley Cup earlier this month. With tears, Bourque hoisted the Stanley Cup on the ice at Pepsi Center.

During a parade for the Avalanche through the streets of downtown Denver two days after winning the title June 9, Bourque said, “Do I really want to come back? I’m 40 years old. I could play, no doubt.”

Although he parried questions about his future, saying he would announce his decision in a few weeks, he has talked recently about family concerns.

Bourque’s wife, Christiane, and their children, ages 17, 15 and 10, stayed in Boston after he was traded.