Cologne (SID) – The “Ironman” draws the line: Keith Yandle (36), with 989 NHL appearances without interruption, record player in the North American ice hockey professional league, has ended his career following 16 years. The defenseman played for the Philadelphia Flyers last season.
“I didn’t feel like training over the summer. It’s not worth trying to push through another year,” Yandle said. Now comes the next chapter, he wants to be “a good family man”.
At the end of January, the American had drawn level with the previously sole record holder Doug Jarvis with his 964th appearance and then left him behind. His streak ended in early April when the Flyers dropped him from the squad. Yandle was fit, but still a spectator for the first time since March 26, 2009. He was eleven games short of the magic 1000.
In his career, Yandle has completed 1109 main round games, plus 58 play-off games. He has played for the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers and Philadelphia since the 2006-07 season.
