Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, a member of the Vegas Golden Knights’ inaugural team and the most experienced French-born player in NHL history, has announced his retirement from international hockey following France’s 5-1 loss to Germany in the Olympic qualification playoff on Tuesday.
The 40-year-old center, serving as France’s captain in his first Olympic appearance, scored his team’s only goal in the defeat. “That was my last game,” Bellemare said. “I had to reach the quarterfinals to keep on wearing this jersey. It’s a bit tough emotionally, but I’ve never played just for myself, and I’m not going to start now.”
Bellemare, an undrafted player who made his NHL debut at 29, appeared in 700 regular-season games across five teams. The Golden Knights selected him from the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2017 expansion draft, and he spent two seasons in Las Vegas as a reliable fourth-liner, recording a career-high 16 points in 2017-18 and contributing to the team’s run to the Stanley Cup Final.
After leaving Vegas, Bellemare played two seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, two with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and one with the Seattle Kraken before moving to Ajoie HC of the Swiss League for the past two years. He did not specify whether he would finish the current season with five games remaining.
When asked about the possibility of playing in the 2030 Olympics, which France will host, Bellemare said he physically feels capable but prioritizes family. He and his wife, Hannah, have two children. “I’m also sad that we couldn’t pull off a spectacular game to advance to the next round,” Bellemare added. “Our fans in France deserved it. We’re a small hockey nation. The good news is there’s a lot to look forward to. If this Olympic tournament can inspire a young kid to play, that would be fantastic.”
