Glen Wesley retires from hockey

RALEIGH, N.C., June 6 (UPI) -- Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Glen Wesley has retired after a 20-year playing career in the National Hockey League.

Wesley becomes the Hurricanes' director of defenseman development.

"It was time to move on and concentrate on my family and my family's future," Wesley told the Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer Thursday when he announced his retirement. "I've had a wonderful career, and I feel blessed I've been able to end it on such a positive note."

Wesley, the NHL's third overall draft pick in 1987 by Boston, is the only man who played for the Hurricanes in every season since the team relocated to North Carolina from Hartford, Conn. in 1997.

Wesley ranks sixth on the NHL's all-time list of games played by a defenseman, skating in 1,457 contests. His career scoring total was 128 goals with 409 assists (537 points).

Last season, he had one goal and 12 assists in 78 games and led the Hurricanes in blocked shots with 110.