Injuries have knocked Brock Hirsche out of junior hockey for good.
Hirsche, captain of the Prince George Cougars for the past two WHL seasons, announced his retirement on Wednesday. Shoulder problems were to blame for cutting his career short.
Hirsche, 20, suffered a left shoulder injury during a Nov. 9 home game against the Edmonton Oil Kings and hadn't been in uniform since. Earlier this week, he had surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Hirsche lost most of last season to a right shoulder injury. He underwent surgery last December and was aiming for a comeback this season.
Hirsche was limited to 26 games -- 18 this year and eight last year -- in what turned out to be the final two seasons of his career. In those games, he recorded five goals and nine points. In total, he skated in 161 regular-season games, all with the Cougars, and had 26 goals and 61 points. In seven playoff outings, Hirsche contributed two assists.
Hirsche, a six-foot, 190-pound centreman from Lethbridge, was selected by the Cougars in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2007 bantam draft.
Hirsche's hustle and desire were always evident on the ice and his leadership skills allowed him to serve as a Cougars' assistant coach while he was trying to recover from his injuries.
"This is a hard day for the entire Prince George Cougars organization," said head coach Dean Clark. "Brock Hirsche was an excellent leader, and a man who truly cares about his teammates and the organization."
Dan Gibb, a 20-year-old defenceman, has been named the new captain of the Cougars.
