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A22 SPORTS
Friday 4 august 2017
Predators captain Fisher retires after 17 seasons in NHL

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Forward James Neal, ac-
Nashville Predators forward quired from Nashville by
Mike Fisher has retired in Las Vegas in the June ex-
what he calls the hard- pansion draft, thanked
est decision he’s had to Fisher on Instagram for all
make, leaving the defend- he taught him on and off
ing Stanley Cup finalists in the ice.
need of a new captain. “Your leadership and
The 37-year-old Fisher friendship allowed our
said in a letter to Preda- team to bring an entire
tors fans that “I know I’ve city together in our quest
made the right one” in opt- for the Stanley Cup... and
ing to retire. that will always be one of
Fisher had 276 goals and the greatest memories of
309 assists in 1,088 regular- my life,” Neal said. “Con-
season games during an gratulations on an incred-
NHL career that lasted 17 ible career, but the great-
seasons. He had 23 goals est mark on your resume
and 28 assists in 13 career is the Man you are one of
playoff games. the best examples of hard
He began his career with work, integrity, humility and
the Ottawa Senators be- class. We’ll all miss you!!!
fore getting traded to The Predators had wanted
Nashville in 2011. Fisher back. While waiting
Fisher was chosen the In this Sept. 22, 2016, file photo, Nashville Predators forward and captain Mike Fisher talks to re- for the captain’s decision,
porters on the first day of NHL hockey training camp, in Nashville, Tenn.
Predators’ captain in Sep- Associated Press general manager David
tember 2016. He had 18 Poile made sure to protect
goals and 24 assists last the roster by signing center
season as Nashville earned have kids and you have Fisher’s retirement. Fisher’s ways tough, but I believe Nick Bonino away from the
its first Western Conference a family. They’ve support- last game was Game 6 of when something ends, Penguins . Poile also signed
title. He’s also husband to ed me without question, the Stanley Cup Finals, a there are new beginnings, forward Scott Hartnell for
country star Carrie Under- and now it’s my turn to 2-0 loss to Pittsburgh. Fisher new opportunities and new veteran leadership.
wood, and they have a return the favor.” Under- noted the Predators saw things to be excited for, Now Nashville will have to
son together. wood said in an Instagram on TV before the game the too,” Fisher wrote. pick a new captain for a
“I approached this sea- post that she was “going crowd of fans in Nashville “I believe that this team, second straight year. Fisher
son with the mindset that it to miss watching you play” during the run the franchise that this city, is going to win was named the seventh
could be my last, and now but added that “Isaiah made to the Stanley Cup. a championship, and I’m captain in team history
that it’s past, I’m looking (their son) and I love you “Knowing we were so close going to be the biggest last year after the Preda-
forward to a future that in- so much and are so ex- to winning it all in June only fan. No one will be happier tors traded defenseman
cludes a lot more time with cited to be able to have makes it more difficult to than I will be to see it hap- Shea Weber to Montreal
my family,” Fisher wrote. you home a lot more.” The leave it behind, but I do so pen, because, these fans, for defenseman P.K. Sub-
“Things change when you Tennessean first reported with hope. Endings are al- they deserve it.” ban .q

Wladimir Klitschko

Continued from Page 17

His early professional ca- er Vitali, saying that would older brother went into
reer passed in a blur, with break a promise to their politics, addressing crowds
16 victories in 13 months. mother. alongside Wladimir Klitsch-
He won his first world title in The brothers’ hard-hitting ko’s fiancee, the U.S. ac-
2000, beating Chris Byrd on style inside the ring and tress Hayden Panettiere,
points for the WBO belt six relaxed, multilingual ap- during anti-government
months after Byrd had tak- proach outside it made protests in Ukraine in 2013.
en the title from Klitschko’s them famous beyond Vitali Klitschko has since be-
brother Vitali. boxing. Wladimir Klitschko come mayor of the Ukraini-
Defeats to Corrie Sanders even made a cameo ap- an capital Kiev.
in 2003 and Lamon Brew- pearance in a 2007 roman- Wladimir Klitschko’s depar-
ster in 2004 raised doubts tic comedy movie in the ture opens up the heavy-
whether Klitschko had the brothers’ adopted home of weight scene, with Joshua
In this Nov. 15, 2014 file photo IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO champion resilience to box at the Germany. now likely to face Bulgar-
Wladimir Klitschko from Ukraine celebrates after winning the IBF top level. He answered the Showing the international ian Pulev in the coming
heavyweight world championships title bout against Bulgarian doubters with an 11-year approach that helped months. Pulev’s only loss
boxer Kubrat Pulev in Hamburg, Germany. unbeaten run from that de- make him such a market- in 26 fights was against
Associated Press
feat to Brewster, beating able athlete, Klitschko re- Klitschko in 2014.
He said that he had deliber- at Wembley Stadium.” contenders such as Ruslan leased his farewell video “It may not be the fan fa-
ately taken a few weeks to An amateur boxing star in Chagaev and David Haye Thursday in three languag- vorite fight, but it’s one we
reach a decision “to make his youth, Klitschko turned along the way with a me- es — English, German and need to get through to get
sure I had enough distance pro in 1996 after he won the thodical, tactical style. Russian. to better things,” Joshua
from the (first Joshua) fight Olympic gold in Atlanta. He never fought his broth- He helped out when his said Thursday.q