The Tank has announced he’s been decommissioned.

Ruslan Fedotenko, a power forward who won two Stanley Cups, announced his retirement from the NHL at 37 years old.

He played in a total of 863 career NHL games with five teams: the Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers. He had 173 goals and 193 assists.

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Fedotenko won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004, and was anything but a bystander: He scored 12 goals, including both goals in their 2-1 win over the Calgary Flames that gave them the Cup.

His second championship came as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring 14 points in 24 postseason games during their 2009 championship season.

Said the Tank, in a statement:

“As I reflect on my career, I realize how truly fortunate I have been to play the game I love at the highest level, to have won the Stanley Cup, not once, but twice, and to have made countless lifelong friendships along the way. I am retiring as a truly grateful man. I will be forever thankful to the Philadelphia Flyers for giving me my start in professional hockey, their belief in me gave me the confidence to reach a level I had only dreamt of. I also had the absolute honor and privilege to play for four other exceptional organizations; I am grateful for the time I spent with each, and for the remarkable teammates I had the pleasure to play alongside.

“Heartfelt appreciation goes out to Bill Barber, John Tortorella, and Craig Ramsey, men whose coaching skills shaped the player I became and to whom I feel a great sense of gratitude. I would also like to thank my agents, Allan Walsh and David Schatia, for their guidance and encouragement throughout my career, and to the fans, whose undying support has meant so much.

“Finally, the greatest words of gratitude go out to my wife, my children, and my parents, for without their love and sacrifice my career would have been impossible. Though I will miss playing the sport I love, I look forward to spending more time with my family as I approach the next phase of my life.”

Fedotenko played his final two pro seasons in the AHL with the Iowa Wild. That was after playing with Donbass of the KHL, which came at a time of war in his native Ukraine. Read more about that tragic tale here.

He was always an asset for his teams, playing hard and hard to play against. Those 28 points he posted in his two Stanley Cup runs were an indication of that value.

Fare thee well, Tank.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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