IRVINE, AB — Emerson Etem has officially retired from professional hockey, and is returning to Medicine Hat.
The former NHL hockey player, and Medicine Hat Tigers alumni, is joining the South Alberta Hockey Academy as a volunteer skills coach.
Etem cites a knee injury as the reason for his retirement.
“Some guys go though injuries, some guys can have a very long 20-year career,” said Etem. “But, life throws things at you for a reason.”
Etem was at one point regarded as one of the top prospects in the WHL, playing under head coach Willie Desjardins, who helped start the academy last year. He was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. During his NHL career, he had stints with the Ducks, the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks, and also briefly played with HC Lugano in Switzerland.
“The next step for me was to get into coaching and I reached out to Willie, and we just discussed some of the positives that I could bring to this academy,” he said.
Etem says he is currently a volunteer while he gets his visa in order, but is hoping for more of a full-time role. He added he plans to settle down in Medicine Hat.
“The city has really grown, there’s a lot more diversity, there’s some new infrastructure, and it’s just the perfect place to raise a family,” he said.
More to come.
