A great end to a great career: Congratulations to Kimmo Timonen

Last night saw the Chicago Blackhawks win their third cup in six seasons and cement their dynasty as one of the best teams in the past decade. The game saw Duncan Kieth and Patrick Kane score in the 2-0 victory in games six. But there was a bigger story in this game 40 year old Blackhawks defense man Kimmo Timonen won his first and only Stanley cup, as he is set to retire now that the season is over. Back on August 5th 2014, Flyers GM Ron Hextall came to a press conference and announced "Kimmo Timonen has been diagnosed with blood clots in his lower right leg and in both lungs. Kimmo is currently being treated for this disorder back in his home country of Finland. His return to play is yet to be determined". It was an injury that many though would be the end of Timonen, when it was first reported many believed that he would just retire because of it. 

But being a fighter like always he returned with the Blackhawks after being traded at the trade deadline for two draft picks from the flyers. He went on to play 16 games in the regular season tallying zero points and two penalty minutes. The Flyers traded Timonen so that he could achieve the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup, something that he had failed to do with the Flyers in 2010 against the Blackhawks which was the start of the dynasty. He finally achieved his dream with the Blackhawks on Monday June 15th 2015, it was a dream come true and an amazing thing to watch as he skated around with the cup. As a hockey fan and a Timonen fan, I am not embarrassed to say that I got choked up as I watched him skate around with the cup. Timonen had an incredible career he is a five time all-star, a five time Barry Ashbee trophy recipient (Philadelphia Flyers best defenseman), four time Olympic champion, three time world championships medalist, and now he is a Stanley cup champion. 

He will go down in my eyes as one of the best defense man to play the game, in his 20 year career he has 117 goals, 454 assists which amounts to 571 points, he also has 654 penalty minutes, and played in 1,108 regular season games. He has some of the most heart and defensive presence that I have seen in any defense man, I will miss watching him play night in and night out. But I was happy to see someone who deserved this achievement some much finally reach the mountain top, it reminded me of the recurring image of Ray Bourque hoisting the Stanley Cup over his head for the first time. Thank you Kimmo for all the memories that you have helped create for me and countless other fans, you have always been consistent whether it was with the Predators, the Flyers, or the Blackhawks you have always been a joy to watch. I wish you well on your future away from the game, and I hope that you can look back on your career and see the same thing that I and many others see that you are one of the best to play the game. Thank you for everything and Congratulations again
 on your first ever Stanley Cup.