Rick Bowness walked off the ice following the Winnipeg Jets’ final loss of the season, which eliminated them from the playoffs, unhappy with his performance and how his team played, and it dawned on him that it should be the final NHL game he coaches. “Coaches have always told me ... they’ve always said you’ll know it’s time,” Bowness said. “It just hit me then: It’s time.” Bowness announced his retirement Monday after 38 NHL seasons, a well-respected career that included leading the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 and more time spent behind the bench than anyone else in league history. “When I leave, I just want to be remembered,” Bowness told reporters at a news conference in Winnipeg, choking back tears. “I just love the game, and I respected the game. I love this league. I respect the league.” Health issues of his own and his wife, Judy, played a role in his decision, which went beyond disappointment over losing to Colorado in five games. After all, Bowness did a good enough job the rest of the time to be a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year for the first time for leading the Jets to a franchise-record 52 wins and a second consecutive postseason appearance in as many seasons on the job. |
Pedro's late goal seals 1Stephen A. Smith hits back at exNetanyahu's Cabinet votes to close Al Jazeera offices in IsraelBlinken tells Netanyahu U.S. opposes plan of ground attack on RafahAntiques Roadshow guest receives staggering appraisal for gift he received years ago at collegeA look at commencement ceremonies as US campuses are roiled by protests over the IsraelPictured: Three suspects chargedOrbán challenger in Hungary mobilizes thousands at a rare demonstration in a government strongholdPSV Eindhoven wraps up its 25th Dutch Eredivisie title by beating Sparta Rotterdam 4Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' dies at 79