Bret Hedican, who won the 2006 Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes and played 17 seasons in the NHL, announced his retirement Wednesday.

Hedican had 6 points in 51 games for the Anaheim Ducks last season, during which he played his 1,000th NHL game.

In 1,039 games with the Blues, Canucks, Panthers, Hurricanes and Ducks, Hedican had 55 goals and 294 points. Hedican also played for the U.S. at the 1992 Winter Olympics.

"After 17 years of playing, I have decided to move on to the next chapter in my life," Hedican said. "I'm proud to have played this game for as long as I have and I'm leaving with no regrets. I want to thank all of the general managers who believed in me, the coaches who got the best out of me and all of my teammates who made me a better hockey player. To the 2006 Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup team, you guys will always be my brothers. Today, I am currently working on a new venture but one day look forward to getting back into the game of hockey in some way."

A 10th-round pick (No. 198) of the St. Louis Blues in the 1988 Entry Draft, Hedican had 26 points and a plus-10 rating in 108 Stanley Cup Playoff games. His last -- and by far his best -- playoff run came with the '06 Hurricanes, when he had 2 goals, 11 points and a plus-6 rating. He drew an assist on Carolina's third goal in a 3-1 victory in Game 7.