Former Chicago Blackhawks legend's son Jake Chelios makes drastic career decision
Photo credit: NHL.com
Former Chicago Blackhawks legend Chris Chelios' son has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey at the age of 34.
At 34 years of age, Jake Chelios has announced his retirement from hockey for good via video on the Instagram page of what was his former team.
Jake Chelios retires from hockey
«I want to thank everyone I've had the privilege of working with over the last six years,» said Chelios, who is shown holding his young daughter. «Fans, I appreciate you guys showing up and supporting us, no matter where our home city was.»
Jake was born and raised in the United States, specifically Chicago, while his father played for the Blackhawks.
He ended up becoming a naturalized Chinese citizen due to playing for the Kunlun Red Stars, the only Chinese-based team in the KHL.
Chelios stayed close to home and played four years of college hockey for the Michigan State Spartans and went undrafted in the NHL.
In 2018, he signed with the Detroit Red Wings and played his only five ever NHL games with them, tallying up zero points in that span.
Throughout the span of 2014 and 2019, Jake tallied up 109 points and 216 penalty minutes across 305 AHL regular-season and playoff games.
He then decided to take his talents to the KHL, where he played in 277 games through the span of 2019 and 2025, tallying up 72 points and 182 penalty minutes.
«To my teammates and their families, thank you,» Chelios continued. «My wife and I were given the rare opportunity to play and travel the world with a core group of great people for six years and made lifelong friends in the process. From our first training camp in Beijing to the last five years spent in Moscow, we did it all and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I also want to send 'Nihao' to the guys in China who I haven't seen in a couple years. I hope you are doing well and I will see you again soon.»
Since retiring, the organization also made a very big rebranding change, naming itself as the Shanghai Dragons, and they are also expected to leave China in the upcoming season.
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