Former Boston Bruins Rich Peverley has decided that it is not worth the risk of playing anymore in the NHL. The 33-year old forward (affectionately known as ‘Raptor Jesus’) has decided to hang up the skates for good. He will be taking on a front office role for the Dallas Stars. Peverley will now help the team in player development.
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“I think, not being drafted, I can help kids who are trying to move their way up,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ve been through something that every player can relate to.”
For the last eighteen months since his collapse on the bench, Peverley was trying to get back on the ice. Peverley had to retire due to his heart. It was that heart that pushed the Bruins to an incredible comeback against the Vancouver Canucks in game three of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. The Black and Gold won it all that year, and Rich Peveley’s ability to move up to the Boston Bruins top line was one of those ‘X-factors’ that helped put it over the top for Boston.
“It was working out, monitoring how I was doing, continuing to see doctors to exhaust every avenue and find out exactly if I could play,” said Peverley to the Dallas Morning News. “It’s a case that’s very complicated, and what I have learned is there is no 100 percent to medicine and, unfortunately, I can’t play anymore.”
Puck Prose
Rich Peverley was traded to the Dallas Stars with Tyler Seguin in a move that brought Loui Eriksson and (now departed) Reilly Smith to the Bruins. Peverley was one of those players that brought charachter and reliability to the B’s in his three seasons in a Bruins jersey. Peverley’s career was a microcosm of his heart. The undrafted player ended up playing for four different teams in the NHL, playing a total of 442 regular season games and 59 postseason contests in his career.
Peverley end up scoring 241 points(84 goals) during his time in the NHL.
The first NHL player to offer his thanks and congratulations was Tyler Seguin. The fellow former Bruin played four years with Peverley, and was also part of the 2011 Stanley Cup Championship team.
Rich Peverley was the ultimate teammate and the best guy to sit beside during my first 4 years. Heck of a career & all the best in new role!
— Tyler Seguin (@tseguinofficial) September 4, 2015
Peverley knows that his heart is literally not in the game anymore. He’s still positive and has been problem free for the last year and a half. “It’s the main deterrent to why I can’t play hockey, but for all other uses, I’ve had no issues,” said Peverley. “I’m able to work out on an almost daily basis, I’m able to play shinny hockey with my friends, I play in a soccer league now. I’m enjoying life and I have no worries about my health.”
Peverley was cleared for workouts and acted as an auxiliary assistant coach for the Stars during his convalescence. While he did attempt to get back to the NHL. It’s quite probable that no team was willing to risk a repeat of that incident, and that may had helped finalize his decision to retire from playing in the NHL.
“I haven’t had any issues since my incident,” said Peverley. His collapse truly frightened his fellow and former teammates back in March 2014. “I can continue to enjoy my life, and I get a second chance at life, and I’m going to try to take advantage of that.”
Happy Trails Raptor Jesus! May your next journey in hockey be as rewarding to you as it was as a player.