P.E.I.'s Brad Richards knew it was time to call it a career

After 15 seasons and two Stanley Cups, Murray Harbour's Brad Richards knew it was time to hang up his skates and retire from professional hockey.

• Brad Richards announces retirement after 15 seasons

"I just didn't get the fight back in me to do the work and get back into the season. I wanted to go this way and call it a career and move on to the next phase," Richards told CBC News: Compass host Bruce Rainnie on Thursday.

"I wasn't getting excited, and that told me something. That told me it was time to move on."

Richards announced his retirement on Wednesday.

He said he had been weighing the decision to retire since January. After speaking to his parents about three weeks ago, he finally decided to call it a career. Richards alsonoted that playing for three teams New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings in the final three years of his career took a toll on him and his family.

Stanley Cupwinner

Richards was drafted 64th overall in 1998 by the Tampa Bay Lightning. He began his NHL career with the team in 2000. Four years later, the Lightning won the Stanley Cup and Richards won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs most valuable player. He also received the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy that year as the league's most sportsmanlike player.

Richards won the Stanley Cup again in 2015 with the Chicago Blackhawks.

• Murray Harbour all set for NHL player Brad Richards, Stanley Cup

Besides winning two Stanley Cups, Richards said a highlight of his career was having his son on the ice with the Stanley Cup for one of those victories and also that his son was able to watch him play.

Enjoying the game

Looking back, Richards said a player that helped his career after was Dave Andreychuk in Tampa Bay. Richards said Andreychuk was a buffer between the younger players and the coaching staff. But Andreychuk also taught the younger players, like Richards, how to enjoy the game.

"Seeing him out there at 40 years old having so much fun it really opened my eyes on how lucky we are to play this game. And, even in the bad days when you think the world is coming to an end, it's still a great profession."

Richards is also mindful that he has become someone that people in Murrary Harbour look up to. His message is that whether someone wants to pursue hockey or another profession, "It can be done."

"It's an honour to be able to come from a place like that and hopefully leave that type of impression, for sure," Richards said.

Besides Tampa Bay, New York and Chicago, Richards also played for the Dallas Stars. He also played for Canada in the 2006 Olympic Games. Richardsfinished his NHL career with 932 points in 1,126 games played, including 298 goals. In the playoffs, Richards tallied 105 points in 146 games.

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