From the Branches: The end of an era

Bruce Bennett/Getty ImagesHey everyone. Happy Friday! Lots of good stuff happening today including the start of the Rookie Tournament. More on that and other Leafs news in a second, though, because I want to give top billing to a few women's hockey players who are leaving the game:

Jayna Hefford, Gillian Apps, and Catherine Ward have announced their retirement from hockey. All three have had incredibly successful careers with the national team. It's been an absolute treat to watch these three women play over the years and I'm going to miss it.

Jayna Hefford has been a part of every single Olympic women's hockey team since the sport was added to the Olympics in 1998. Gillian Apps has been an…