AWAKE & DREAMING

Monday, September 18, 2006

Keith Primeau Retires

35 year old Keith Primeau announced his retirement a couple of days ago, from the world of hockey & the NHL. His decision is due to health related problems as a result of ongoing post-concussion syndrome. He was the Captain of the Philadelphia Flyers and one of their most popular & respected players.



Keith Primeau (born November 24, 1971, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) played his last six seasons for the Philadelphia Flyers and had also played for the Carolina Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers, and the Detroit Red Wings. He was drafted in the first round (third overall) in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by Detroit. He was traded by the Hurricanes to the Flyers in 2000, for Rod Brind'Amour, and Jean-Marc Pelletier after a salary dispute. His best season was the 2000-01 NHL season when he had 73 points. On May 4th 2000, Primeau scored the game-winning goal in the longest game in modern NHL playoff history (five overtime periods for a total of 152 minutes and one second) against Ron Tugnutt of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Only two games in 1933 and 1936 were longer.



In the 2003-04 season, Keith had only 22 points in 54 games. However, in the 2004 playoffs Primeau had a total of 9 goals and 7 assists for a total of 16 points; it was the best playoff year of Primeau's career. He recorded a hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of these playoffs. His play carried the team to within a game of the Stanley Cup Finals. Primeau suffered a concussion in October, 2005, and missed the rest of the 2005-06 season. It was this concussion that forced his retirement. His younger brother Wayne Primeau plays for the Boston Bruins. The two brothers fought each other on the ice during the 1996-97 NHL season. Keith served as Alternate (assistant) Captain of Detroit Red Wing and Hartford Whalers. Also served as Alternate Captain, then Captain of Carolina Hurricanes after the Whaler franchise relocated. Served as Captain of the Philadelphia Flyers.



Song for the day - "Somewhere Out There" - OUR LADY PEACE