Fairfield Prep hockey legend Chris Drury retires from NHL

Trumbull native and former Fairfield Prep star Chris Drury is retiring from the NHL two months after the former New York Rangers captain had the final year of his contract bought out by the team.

The 34-year-old Drury is coming off an injury-plagued season that limited him to 24 games. He made the announcement Friday through the NHL Players' Association. In 892 career games with Colorado, Calgary, Buffalo and the Rangers, the constantly clutch Drury had 255 goals and 615 points.

He was let go by the Rangers in late June after a largely disappointing four seasons, including three as captain. Drury was given $3.333 million for the buyout that closed the five-year, $35.25 million deal he signed with New York after leaving Buffalo as a free agent in 2007.

The Rangers then used that cap space to sign prized free-agent center Brad Richards to a nine-year, $60 million deal.

His retirement marks 22 years to the month that Drury famously pitched Trumbull National Little League to the Little League World Series championship over Chinese Taipei in 1989.

Drury went on to star in hockey at Fairfield Prep. His No. 18 jersey, which was also worn by his brother Ted, is retired by the Jesuits. Drury won the Hobey Baker award as the nation's top college hockey player after an outstanding career at Boston University, where he helped the Terriers win a national championship as a freshman in 1995.

He joined the Colorado Avalanche in 1998 and won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year. Drury later won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2001.

Drury is the only hockey player to ever win both the Hobey Baker award and Calder Memorial Trophy. He holds the record for most goals in Boston University history.

Drury is also a two-time Olympic silver medalist. He won at the 2002 Salt Lake City games and last year's games in Vancouver.