AHL star Keith Aucoin retires from professional hockey

If you’re a fan of only the NHL, you may only barely recognize Keith Aucoin’s name. The 39-year old forward played just 145 games in the league, and recorded just 49 points. But if you’ve watched AHL hockey throughout the last 15 or so years, you’ll understand that an incredible playing career ended recently when Aucoin announced his retirement. One of the best minor league players in recent history, Aucoin also dominated in Europe for the last four seasons.

Aucoin ranks seventh on the all-time AHL scoring list with 857 points in just 769 games, and fifth on the all-time assist leaderboard. His minor league career started in 2001-02 after an incredible career at Norwich University, and ended in 2013-14 when he finished the season with 43 points for the Chicago Wolves. During that time he also suited up for the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues, but was never given a full season to show what he could do at the NHL level.

The forward went undrafted in a time when small, undersized players were often overlooked, but still quickly proved his offensive prowess. Aucoin won two Calder Cups during his minor league career and was named AHL MVP in 2010 after scoring 106 points in 72 games for the champion Hershey Bears. According to Barry Scanlon of the Lowell Sun, Aucoin has taken a coaching position with the Boston Junior Rangers after a long and prosperous hockey career.