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NHL enforcer, unlikely All-Star John Scott retires

By Alex Butler
Former Chicago Blackhawks enforcer John Scott connects with a punch to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins Deryk Engelland during a fight in the first period at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on December 20, 2011. UPI/Archie Carpenter
1 of 3 | Former Chicago Blackhawks enforcer John Scott connects with a punch to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins Deryk Engelland during a fight in the first period at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on December 20, 2011. UPI/Archie Carpenter | License Photo

PHOENIX, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- John Scott, the guy who was voted into the 2016 NHL All-Star Game despite playing in the AHL, retired Wednesday.

Scott, 34, began his career in 2008 with the Minnesota Wild. He wrote an article detailing his retirement Wednesday for The Players' Tribune.

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"It has been a hell of a ride," Scott wrote. "But I'm done. I am officially retired, as of today."

"I scored five goals. I had four kids. And I had one hell of a good time over the years. By my count, I only had 43 fights in the NHL. I only really lost one clean, in my humble opinion. Congratulations, Justin Johnson. You caught me with the left hook. What can I say? Good job."

Scott played for seven teams in his eight-year NHL career, but most sports fans will remember him most for the quirky way he was chosen to take part in the league's 2016 All-Star showcase. While playing with the Arizona Coyotes, Scott won a fan vote to be included in the All-Star Game. He was asked not to partake in the game by both the Coyotes and the NHL, but turned down the request. He was then traded to the Montreal Canadiens and sent down to the AHL. But he still served as Pacific Division captain and would go on to score two goals in the contest and win MVP of the three-on-three tournament.

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The 6-foot-8 player, known for his fighting ability, remained humble throughout his hockey journey.

"Usually at this point, in a story like this one, this is where guys tell you, "And that's when I realized how much I had taken my life in the NHL for granted." But to be completely honest, I had never taken it for granted," Scott wrote. "I was an undrafted defenseman who wasn't a naturally gifted hockey player. I was never, ever, in a million years, supposed to make it — let alone play for 10 years. Not only did I appreciate every little thing, from the delicious food we got on the plane rides to the nice hotels to the nights out with the guys, most of the time, I was thinking: This is so nuts. I can't believe this is my life. When is somebody going to come along and take this away?"

The enforcer scored five goals and had 11 assists in 285 games in his career for the Wild, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabers, San Jose Sharks, Coyotes, and Canadiens. He had 544 career penalty minutes.

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