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CU alum Clitsome announces retirement from NHL

Posted 6/2/16

Clarkson University Hockey alum Grant Clitsome '08 announced today that he has decided to officially retire from professional hockey. Clitsome, 31, played seven seasons in the National Hockey League, …

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CU alum Clitsome announces retirement from NHL

Posted

Clarkson University Hockey alum Grant Clitsome '08 announced today that he has decided to officially retire from professional hockey.

Clitsome, 31, played seven seasons in the National Hockey League, including his last four seasons with the Winnipeg Jets. Clitsome, who was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets 271st overall in the 2004 NHL Draft, tallied 71 points (15-56) and 98 penalty minutes in 205 NHL games. He played his first three seasons in the NHL with Columbus (2009-12).

"It is with great regret, that today I announce my retirement from hockey due to a back injury," said Clitsome. "It's tough when something unexpected, and out of your control, suddenly ends your career. Despite the circumstances, I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to fulfill my childhood dream and play in the NHL. I am also very grateful for all the great people that I have met, and all the friendships that I have made playing hockey. I would like to thank my family and friends for all of their love and support over the years. I would like to thank the Columbus Blue Jackets organization for drafting me and giving me an opportunity to start my professional career. I would also like to thank the Winnipeg Jets organization for me treating me so well from day one. It truly was a special place to play and I'm proud to retire as a Jet."

Clitsome was a four-year standout at defense at Clarkson from 2004-08. He played a prominent role in leading the Green and Gold resurgence that lifted the Clarkson Hockey program back among the nation's elite in the mid-2000s.

During his collegiate career, he helped the Golden Knights compile 78 victories from 2004-2008, two back-to-back 20-win campaigns (2006-07, 2007-08) for the first time in 10 seasons, an ECAC Hockey Tournament Championship (2007) and a conference regular season title (2008) along with making two consecutive showings in the NCAA Tournament (2007, 2008) for the first time since the late 1990s.

Clitsome was an All-America and ECAC All-Star who capped off his collegiate career by helping to lead the Knights to one of the most successful seasons in the program's history in 2007-08 with a 22-13-4 overall record, a first-place 15-4-3 ECAC Hockey mark and Clarkson's first NCAA Tournament victory since 1996. The Gloucester, ONT native tallied 73 career points on 16 goals and 57 assists through 150 games.