Johnny Boychuk’s hockey career is over.
The ex-Bruins defenseman, who has played for the New York Islanders for the past six seasons, was forced to retire from hockey due to an eye injury he suffered during the 2019-20 season, the Islanders announced Wednesday.
“After numerous and extensive medical exams, New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk’s career has come to an end, due to an eye injury suffered during the 2019-20 regular season,” the team said in a statement. “The most recent injury was the second to the same eye.”
Boychuk, 36, choked up a few times when speaking to reporters over Zoom on Wednesday to share the news of his retirement.