OHL grad Chris Thorburn announces retirement after 16 pro seasons

The St. Louis Blues announced on Monday that Chris Thorburn has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey following a 16-year career that included 801 games in the National Hockey League.

Thorburn spent the majority of his final season in 2018-19 with the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage. He was recalled by St. Louis at the end of the regular season and was with the Blues throughout their run to the Stanley Cup championship.

Chris Thorburn announced his retirement today after an 801-game career that had a storybook ending last June. https://t.co/4d4WC9H9nh #stlblues pic.twitter.com/Tv8KT60fij

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) June 22, 2020

The Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. native got his start with the North Bay Centennials in 1999-2000, after being selected with the sixth overall pick of the 1999 OHL Priority Selection. The right winger went on to play four OHL seasons between North Bay, Saginaw and Plymouth, recording 203 points (79-124—203) over 253 regular season games. He helped the Whalers reach Game 7 of the Western Conference Championship Series in his final season.

Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the 2001 NHL Draft, Thorburn spent three seasons with the AHL’s Rochester Americans from 2003-06 before breaking into the NHL ranks where he’d spend time with Buffalo, Puttsburgh, Atlanta, Winnipeg and St. Louis. He collected 134 points (53-81—134) over his 801 game NHL career.

Thorburn returned to Saginaw for a visit with the Stanley Cup this past December.