After a 18-year career in the NHL, Joe Pavelski has announced his retirement from hockey. The 39-year-old, who was just eliminated from the league’s West Final with the Dallas Stars, decided to hang up his skates. Pavelski, a native of Plover, Wisconsin, began his journey in the sport as a member of the Badgers hockey program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Pavelski played for three seasons with the Badgers from 2004-2006, and during this time he played a key role in their National Championship-winning season in 2006. After his collegiate career, he spent 13 seasons with the San Jose Sharks before joining the Dallas Stars in 2019. During his time with both teams, Pavelski made deep playoff runs to the Stanley Cup Final and reached it twice: once with the San Jose Sharks in 2016 and once again with the Dallas Stars in 2020.
Pavelski leaves behind an impressive legacy with 475 goals and 1,068 career points in 1,332 NHL games. His 74 postseason goals are also a record among American-born players in NHL history. Wisconsin fans and hockey enthusiasts alike are celebrating Pavelski’s remarkable career as a Badger legend.
